Navigating the Margins: Victimization Experiences and College Outcomes Among Black Girls

• In Event: Race, Gender, and Class Roundtables Session
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): 5) Gendered Violence, Risk, and Vulnerability

Abstract

This study investigates the patterns of victimization experienced by Black adolescent girls in the United States and examines how these experiences influence their educational trajectories, particularly college outcomes. Drawing on data from the Monitoring the Future (MTF) 12th-grade panel survey, the research compares two cohorts—one from the early 1990s and another from the 2010s—to explore changes in victimization prevalence and the impact of school engagement over time. The analytic sample includes over 2,200 Black girls across both cohorts. Using logistic regression models, the study assesses the relationship between victimization (both violent and property) and college-related outcomes, while controlling for academic performance, socioeconomic status, family structure, community factors, and risk behaviors. This study emphasizes the importance of culturally responsive interventions and restorative justice practices in schools, as well as broader policy efforts to address structural inequalities. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the interplay between victimization, educational engagement, and opportunity for Black adolescent girls.

Authors

• Makaela Simone Brass, University at Buffalo

• Yunmei Lu, University at Buffalo