The Role of Racial Socialization in Relation to Parenting Practices and Youth Behavior: An Exploratory Analysis

Using an African American Lens to Explore the Intersection of Race, Gender, and Intimate Partner Violence

“…In an effort to protect their children they may use what some consider corporal punishment, which is culturally normative in some African American communities, and is not viewed as child abuse because there is no intention to cause injury to the child. Rather, the intention is to inflict pain as a way of correcting and controlling behavior, it is used as a form of conditioning (Nomaguchi & House, 2013;Rodriguez, McKay, & Bannon, 2008;Taylor, Moeller, Hamvas, & Rice, 2013). Generally, African American mothers acknowledge the existence of child abuse and do not endorse it, but culturally child abuse is seen as occurring when the child is injured and or neglected, not giving a child a spanking (Franklin & James, 2015;Nomaguchi & House, 2013;Rodriguez, McKay, & Bannon, 2008;Taylor, Moeller, Hamvas, & Rice, 2013).…”

“…Rather, the intention is to inflict pain as a way of correcting and controlling behavior, it is used as a form of conditioning (Nomaguchi & House, 2013;Rodriguez, McKay, & Bannon, 2008;Taylor, Moeller, Hamvas, & Rice, 2013). Generally, African American mothers acknowledge the existence of child abuse and do not endorse it, but culturally child abuse is seen as occurring when the child is injured and or neglected, not giving a child a spanking (Franklin & James, 2015;Nomaguchi & House, 2013;Rodriguez, McKay, & Bannon, 2008;Taylor, Moeller, Hamvas, & Rice, 2013). That African American women reported lower occurrences of child abuse as children in the study is not surprising given what they have been conditioned culturally to view as abuse and by that definition corporal punishment does not constitute abuse.…”

“…That African American women reported lower occurrences of child abuse as children in the study is not surprising given what they have been conditioned culturally to view as abuse and by that definition corporal punishment does not constitute abuse. Rather the punishment is viewed as a corrective and seen as conditioning a child for future interactions in a society, which can be dangerous for African Americans (Franklin & James, 2015;Nomaguchi & House, 2013;Rodriguez, McKay, & Bannon, 2008;Taylor, Moeller, Hamvas, & Rice, 2013). Culturally, some African Americans use corporal punishment as a preventative measure, due to the awareness they have of the societal constraints placed on their children.…”

“…Research asserts that Caucasian parenting is characterized as too laissez-fare and African American parenting as too authoritarian (Dixon, Brooks-Gunn, & Graber, 2008;Rodriguez, McKay, & Bannon, 2008;Thompson, 2011). White children are allowed to move through society with a certain inherent degree of entitlement and ownership because of their privilege, which does not necessitate the use of strict discipline because the world is more amenable to their bad behaviors (Avison, Ali, & Walters, 2007;Chao & Kanatsu, 2008;Margolin & Gordis, 2003;Nomaguchi & House, 2013;Taylor et al, 2009).…”

“…Conversely, African American children necessitate stricter discipline due to their subjugated status, so their parents will take more stringent corrective steps because they worry if they do not then society will, which could result in their incarceration or death (Avison, Ali, & Walters, 2007;Chao & Kanatsu, 2008;Margolin & Gordis, 2003;Nomaguchi & House, 2013;Taylor et al, 2009). Some studies have found that corporal punishment, a method of discipline that has been criminalized and criticized, is seen as a cultural norm widely used and accepted by many ethnic and racial minorities (Nomaguchi & House, 2013;Rodriguez, McKay, & Bannon, 2008;Taylor, Moeller, Hamvas, & Rice, 2013). Given the compounding nature of maternal stressors such as poverty, crime, victimization, lack of resources, and lack of structural supports (Dorsey et al, 2007), it seems likely that, through the invalidation of cultural norms, racial and ethnic minorities are exposed to additional parental stressors due to the added burden of conforming to societal norms associated with parenting and discipline in particular.…”