NCJ Number
216665
Journal
Journal of Emotional Abuse Volume: 6 Issue: 2/3 Dated: 2006 Pages: 77-96
Date Published
2006
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This paper examines issues involved in delivering services to Black women who have been victims of domestic violence.
Abstract
Battered Black women were not a significant part of the feminist effort to draw attention to and provide services for female victims of domestic violence. Identified as a White movement, many Black women did not share the values of feminism or a perspective derived from the dominant White culture. Ammons (1995) highlights the plight for battered Black women who, in addition to the physical/emotional abuse, experience racism. Racism has the effect of diminishing the priority given to the plight of battered Black women. The dominant society, which generally controls public services, considers that violence is an inherent and routine experience for Black men and women. Black women consequently feel alone and puzzled by the lack of concern about their abuse. This failure to respond appropriately to the domestic abuse of Black women is not only based in the racism of dominant White society but also in the family values of Black culture. Black women are taught to care for and protect their men, and their clergy typically advise them to stay in the relationship and do whatever it takes to keep the marriage and family together. Generally, the criminal justice system is not viewed by abused Black women as a source of help. They do not want their male partners incarcerated and fear losing their income and standing in the community. Although many of the issues confronting battered women are the same regardless of race, there are issues and pressures distinctive to Black women. These issues must be broadly addressed in the training of criminal justice personnel, shelter workers, social workers, medical personnel, and the clergy. 21 references