Toward a More Comprehensive Understanding of Violence Against Impoverished Women

• NCJ Number: 233885
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 21 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2006 Pages: 820-839
• Author(s): Suzanne L. Wenzel; Joan S. Tucker; Katrin Hambarsoomian; Marc N. Elliott
• Date Published: June 2006
• Length: 20 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01 DA11370
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined violence against economically impoverished women.

Abstract

Research and knowledge of violence against impoverished women continues to be limited. To achieve a more comprehensive understanding of violence against impoverished women and therefore inform prevention and intervention efforts for this population, the authors report on recent (past 6 months) physical, sexual, and psychological violence among 898 women who were randomly sampled from temporary shelter settings (n = 460) and low-income housing (n = 438) in Los Angeles County. Women experienced notable rates of violence during the past 6 months (e.g., 23 percent of sheltered women and 9 percent of housed women reported physical violence). Perpetrators were diverse, particularly for the sheltered women, including sexual partners, family, and strangers. These findings, and others suggesting that the different types of violence are distinct and severe, may call for more comprehensive screening and intervention efforts to enhance the safety of impoverished women. (Published Abstract) Tables and references