Violence in the Lives of Black Women: Battered, Black, and Blue
West, C. M.(Ed.), (2002).
Break the silence surrounding Black women's experiences of violence! Dr. West is editor of and contributor to this important book.
Written from a Black feminist perspective by therapists, researchers, activists, and survivors, Violence in the Lives of Black Women: Battered, Black, and Blue sheds new light on an understudied field. For too long, Black women have been suffering the effects of violence in painful silence. This book provides a forum where personal testimony and academic research meet to show you how living at the intersection of many kinds of oppression shapes the lives of Black women. With moving case studies, in-depth discussions of activism and resistance, and helpful suggestions for treatment and intervention, this book will help you understand the impact of violence on the lives of Black women.
Topics include:
- Using the arts to deal with sexual aggression in the Black community
- Racial aspects of sexual harassment
- The consequences of head and brain injuries stemming from abuse
- Domestic violence in African-American lesbian relationships
- Strategies Black women use to escape violent living situations
- Lifelong effects of childhood sexual abuse on Black women's mental health
- References and resources to help you learn more!
Violence in the Lives of Black Women: Battered, Black, and Blue has been named the winner of the prestigious Carolyn Payton Early Career Award. This honor, sponsored by Section One (Psychology of Black Women) of the American Psychological Association's Society for the Psychology of Women (Division 35), is awarded to recognize the achievements of a Black woman in the early stages of her career. Violence in the Lives of Black Women: Battered, Black, and Blue won this award for creativity and for making a major contribution to the understanding of the role of gender in the lives of Black women.
Chapter abstracts
Introduction
I. Overview of Violence
Battered, Black, and Blue: Overview and Psychological Consequences of Violence in the lives of Black Women
The purpose of this chapter is to review the many forms of violence in the lives of African American women, including childhood sexual abuse, dating violence, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. The first section will address definitions of violence, prevalence rates and risk factors, and suggest new directions for research. The second section is a review of the most common psychological sequelae associated with Black women's victimization. The final section is devoted to activities that promote healing, including therapy, participation in research studies, and activism.
Black Women and Community Violence: Trauma, Grief, and Coping
The current article examines literature relevant to understanding the impact of community violence on African American women and children, with a focus on witnessing violence and injury and loss of close others. Survivors may report psychological distress, increased rates of aggression, diminished physical health, and additional challenges in their parental roles. Despite these challenges, they have developed a variety of coping strategies. Individual and community level interventions, based on the more successful coping mechanism of violence survivors, are discussed.
II. Types of Violence
Childhood Sexual Abuse in the Lives of Black Women: Risk and Resilience in a Longitudinal Study
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with long-term mental health consequences. This article reviews the results of one longitudinal study, whose sample consisted primarily of African American women. The purpose is to give voice to an understudied group of CSA survivors and highlight the variability in risk and protective factors. Key findings related to mental health consequences, retraumatization, and resilience are reviewed and set within the broader context of research on African American women and child sexual abuse. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.
Grounding Our Feet and Hearts: Black Women's Coping Strategies in Psychologically Abusive Dating Relationships
This qualitative study investigated the decision-making processes and coping strategies that six heterosexual Black college women used to terminate psychologically abusive dating relationships. Leaving was a four-stage process: (a) assessment of the relationship; (b) separation from the abusive partner; (c) reestablishment of social networks; and (d) declaration of self-empowerment. Coping strategies included self-healing resources. Intervention strategies are provided.
The Straw that Broke the Camel's Back: African American Women's Strategies for Disengaging and Terminating Abusive Relationships
In this ethnographic study, a womanist framework was used to investigate the disengaging-terminating process used by Black women (N =21) who had survived intimate male partner abuse. Data interpretation revealed three stages of disengaging described by the survivors: (a) defining moments: rejecting the violence and exiting the relationship; (b) moving away: distancing the self; and (c) moving on: finding affirmation and support. This process is representative of individual and collective acts of resistance. Suggestions for therapeutic interventions are offered for each stage of the disengagement process.
Living at the Intersection: Effects of Racism and Sexism on Black Rape Survivors
Empirical and clinical data indicate that Black rape survivors are blamed more and are less likely to disclose their assaults than other women. We propose that these differences are, in large part, due to how Black women are perceived and evaluated. Specifically, we link two historical images of Black women, Jezebel and Matriarch, to the contemporary experience of Black rape survivors. The paradoxical and destructive implications of these images on Black rape survivors' decisions to disclose and report their rapes are discussed. Racially sensitive intervention strategies are also provided.
Racialized Sexual Harassment in the Lives of African American Women
To date, scholars who investigate sexual harassment have been disturbingly silent about issues facing women of color. The current study describes results of a qualitative study of sexual and racial harassment conducted with 37 African American women. These data indicate that African American women cannot easily separate issues of race and gender when considering their personal accounts of victimization, which creates a form of racialized sexual harassment. Implications for practice and therapeutic interventions are presented.
III. Marginalized Populations
There's a Stranger in This House: African American Lesbians and Domestic Violence
Although more researchers are investigating violence in lesbian relationships, they continue to neglect the experiences of African American lesbians. The purpose of this article is to describe the experience of a battered African American lesbian and offer suggestions for intervention, which include techniques for addressing homophobia, providing appropriate referrals, and culturally sensitive treatment.
Head and Brain Injuries Experienced by African American Women Victims of Intimate Partner Violence
Regardless of ethnicity, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most serious, prevalent, and often undiagnosed results of intimate partner violence. Greater severity of violence, coupled with inadequate health care, places battered African American women at increased risk for head injuries. Accordingly, we review the symptoms associated with head injuries in battered women, with a focus on the experiences of Black women. A case study is used to illustrate rehabilitation and treatment options. Assessment was conducted using the Ackerman-Banks Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Battery. Neruropsychological assessment is recommended, as well as culturally relevant and multidisciplinary treatment strategies that can empower clients.
IV. Breaking Silence: Activism and Healing
Talking Back: Research as an Act of Resistance and Healing for African American Women Survivors of Intimate Male Partner Violence
The purpose of this article is to use a Black feminist/womanist framework to (a) explore the historical factors that discourage Black women's participation in the research process; (b) demonstrate how research can be a potential avenue of resistance and healing for African American women survivors of intimate male partner violence; and (c) suggest ways for practitioners and researchers to encourage the participation of this population. Benefits from the research process emerged as 3 themes: (a) healing the self; (b) helping others; and (c) envisioning new life directions.
Fragmented Silhouettes
The intersection of racism and sexism within the African American community has privileged the bodies of Black men over the bodies of Black women. Oftentimes, violent crimes against Black women become issues of African American racial division rather than solidarity. I propose that we change our racial schema, in which issues of police brutality and racial profiling overshadow the continual trauma of Black women's bodies by Black men. I suggest these issues are no longer seen as distinctly separate or divisive, but that we create a world in which Black men and Black women have absolute authority of their bodies.
Using Celluloid to Break the Silence About Sexual Violence in the Black Community
I am the producer, writer, and director of "NO!," a feature length documentary that addresses intra-racial sexual assault in the Black community. Though this film, I hope to break the silence and give visual voice to a chorus of Black women rape survivors and Black women and men activists, historians, poets, attorneys, psychologists and musicians. Their message is conveyed through testimonies, scholarship, dance, music, and poetry.
Striving for a More Excellent Way
On March 2, 1998 my childhood friend, Rosmari Pleasure, was gunned down by a male acquaintance in the driveway of her Memphis home. A More Excellent Way, Inc. (AWay) was created in response to this tragedy and is committed to bringing an end to these violent acts that plague our community. In addition to the annual Sisters4Life 5K race, AWay, Inc. sponsors an annual conference, entitled A Conversation of Love: Preventing Relationship Violence, preventive educational initiatives such as Circles of Courage, and the Very Special People (VSP) Scholarship to assist former victims of domestic violence.
I Find Myself at Therapy's Doorstep: Conclusion and Suggested Resources
This volume used a Black feminist framework to investigate childhood sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and community violence in the lives of African American women. This chapter will summarize the authors' findings, review their suggestions for intervention, and provide a list of readings and resources.
Reviews
“This book should be read by all healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses, clinic staff, social workers, mental health staff, researchers in the family social sciences, program administrators, and probably the police and court personnel as well as community workers and helpers in all settings. The book is important for anyone, including interested laypersons, who want to understand an unacknowledged problem or who want to increase their cultural sensitivity. This is an important book that belongs in our libraries.”
Marcie Paker
Journal of Comparative Family Studies (2004)
“This book is noteworthy because it moves beyond the terrible toll of violence to catalogue Black women's strengths and resilience. Liberally illustrated with quotes from literature and song, the book is a must read for anyone concerned with increasing their cultural competency.”
Mary P. Koss, Ph.D.
Professor, Public Health, Family and Community Medicine, Psychiatry, and Psychology, University of Arizona
“The book has a very strong emphasis on intervention strategies that will be useful to therapeutic practitioners as well as survivors of a intimate violence - A fresh approach.”
Traci C. West, Ph.D.
Author of Wounds of the Spirit: Black Women, Violence, and Resistance Ethics