Every American woman of color immediately understood how affirming it would be for little black girls to see a black woman in a new leadership role
Race- and gender-matched role models provide information to young people regarding what is possible for them as members of specific social groups
All young people know that some people grow up to become physicians, but race and gender-matched physicians provide young people with the information that 'people like me' sometimes grow up to become physicians.
One of the Black 8th grade girls said this about race and role models....(below)
"To me, they (race-matched role models) help you more. They understand you more."
"The better the world matches their [children's] dreams, it seems, the more likely they are to reach them."
Children succeed and thrive when they see adults of their race and gender succeed in the world
Misty Copeland was the American Ballet Theatre's first African-American principal dancer. Research has shown the importance of same-race and -gender role models for children