The Enduring Significance of Race, Ethnicity and Poverty for Male Victimization: 1973-2010

• In Event: Innovative Research Using Data from the National Crime Victimization Survey

Abstract

In the United States, Latino and black males are more vulnerable to serious violent victimization compared to white males and it is likely that economic disadvantage plays a key role in these disparities. Our analysis of nearly 3 million interviews from the National Crime Victimization Surveys (1973-2010) is the first effort to determine: 1) whether household poverty and other socio-demographic factors account for race and ethnic differences in violent victimization over the past four decades; 2) whether the importance of race, ethnicity, and poverty has changed over time; and 3) whether the effect of poverty on risk varies across race and ethnic subgroups over time. The results show that poverty accounts for a large proportion of race and ethnic disparities in victimization risk and that subgroup differences in age composition and urban residence also are important. Moreover, despite large decreases in violence and important variation in economic conditions over time, we find little change in victimization disparities by race, ethnicity or poverty status.

Authors

• Janet L. Lauritsen, University of Missouri - St. Louis

• Karen Heimer, University of Iowa

• Joseph Lang, University of Iowa