School Punishment and Girlhood: The Intersection of Race and Age on Risk of Suspension

Informed by Critical Race Feminism, this study sought to examine whether hazard of suspension across ages differed for minoritized girls as compared to white girls. According to results, Black and Latina girls experienced greater hazards of suspension as compared to white girls, hazards that increased over age. These findings held accounting for teacher-reported externalizing behaviors and a number of relevant control variables. Results provide some support for the Critical Race Feminist perspective’s application to school suspension for girls, suggesting minoritized girls and Black girls in particular are significantly more likely to experience school suspension as they age.