A Longitudinal Test of a Feminist Pathways Model Among Black Youth: Incorporating Racial Discrimination and School Difficulties

Abstract

This study addresses important gaps in previous quantitative tests of feminist pathways theory by utilizing longitudinal data from Black men and women and by incorporating racial discrimination and school difficulties. We examine early physical abuse, sexual abuse, and racial discrimination as risks for criminal behavior and psychological distress, school difficulties, and substance use as links between early trauma and young adulthood crime. Consistent with previous studies, early abusive experiences were more salient for Black women than men, but racial discrimination was meaningful for both women and men. Moreover, the connections among mediators differed. Policy implications are offered.