Domestic Violence Among Communities of Color

Intimate partner violence and dating abuse can happen to anyone. It reaches across boundaries of gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education level – there is no “protected” group. However, research also shows that some groups experience abuse at higher rates than others and that characteristics of certain communities may put them at a higher risk of experiencing abuse. Arizona State University’s Office of Gender-Based Violence reveals that, “1 in 2 Black/African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and multiracial women of color have experienced [intimate partner violence] (sexual and/or physical violence; stalking) in their lifetime.” This is 30 to 50% higher than rates of intimate partner violence experienced by White non-Hispanic, Hispanic, and Asian women. 

A number of factors contribute to this high rate among BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color). Among them are systemic discrimination, societal and cultural expectations and stereotypes, and dynamics of power and control in society. A number of statistics illustrate how these harmful structures become exacerbated in certain communities. For instance, among Native Americans, an estimated nine in ten victims of rape or sexual assault have non-native assailants. Meanwhile, Black women are almost three times more likely than White women to be killed by a male intimate partner or other man. These patterns of abuse begin early on. By age 18, around 40% of Black women report coercive sexual contact. And the abuse has dire consequences on these populations, with Black women reporting more serious physical and mental health damage as a result of abuse. Resources for these communities are lacking, and even when they are available, survivors may hesitate to report for a number of other reasons.  

Some barriers faced by BIPOC include their legal status, their “strong loyalty bind to race, culture and family,” and cultural or religious beliefs that either keep them from leaving their partner or persuade them to keep the matter private. 

Black women may be especially prone to keeping abuse private, as their communities may encourage them to “handle it at home” rather than to seek help from a system that has historically caused them harm. Estimates reveal that out of every fifteen Black women who experience assault, only one of them reports it. American social worker and author Feminista Jones for TIME magazine provides some reasoning behind this statistic:  

“For Black women, a strong sense of cultural affinity and loyalty to community and race renders many of us silent, so our stories often go untold. One of the biggest related impediments is our hesitation in trusting the police or the justice system. As Black people, we don’t always feel comfortable surrendering ‘our own’ to the treatment of a racially biased police state and as women, we don’t always feel safe calling police officers who may harm us instead of helping us. And when we do speak out or seek help, we too often experience backlash from members of our communities who believe we are airing out dirty laundry and making ourselves look bad in front of White people.”  

The truth is that Black women are more likely to be blamed if they report abuse. They are also more likely to be arrested when defending themselves to police. According to the ACLU, Black women and girls have historically been seen as more independent, less innocent, and less in need of protection than their white counterparts. Thus, many hold the belief that they cannot be victims, that they cannot really be abused. This belief, besides being completely false, is extremely harmful on many levels. It prevents Black women from seeking help, it prevents bystanders from providing proper support, and it influences the way judges and juries view Black female survivors in court. Abusers are also well aware of these beliefs. There are countless examples of abusers specifically choosing to prey on individuals who they knew they were “less likely to be believed.”    

The stereotype of the strong Black woman also impacts the likelihood that survivors will seek help. Researchers describe the danger of this stereotype as “the internalized and dominant message that, as a Black woman, one must be rigidly strong, hypersexual, and primary caregiver to all, before acknowledging or taking care of one's own needs and desires.” This stereotype may influence the way Black women think about and respond to abuse. If they feel their role is to keep their family together, to sacrifice for others, to show no sign of injury, they may never report or escape from their abuser, and they may well be killed.  

Indigenous women and other women of color also experience systemic discrimination and bias. In a report for the United Nations, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Reem Alsalem, explains how violence against Indigenous women is rooted in colonization and the patriarchal power structures supported by it. These intergenerational experiences of racism and marginalization “have led to high levels of poverty, dire financial and social stress, and significant gaps in opportunities and well-being between indigenous and non-indigenous women” – all of which increase the risk of intimate partner violence in a community. Besides being exposed to such risk factors, Indigenous communities also lack access to necessary resources. Studies find that, of the Indigenous women who experienced domestic violence, only 38% were able to access the resources they needed, such as shelters, legal assistance, and medical care. Between a lack of proper resources, numerous compounding risk factors, and systemic discrimination, it’s no wonder Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color continue to experience domestic violence at alarmingly high rates.  

The intersection of race and domestic violence is complex, but undoubtedly stems in large part from historical and systematic racism that exists across all areas of society. Effectively combating intimate partner violence, therefore, will require sustained effort on many fronts – in neighborhoods, in schools, in legislation, in courts, in issues that extend outside domestic violence. But perhaps the most powerful work can be done when individuals come together to create change in their own communities. By educating yourself and knowing how to respond, you too can help create necessary change in the issue of domestic violence.  

---

Harmony House

The mission of Harmony House is to provide shelter, advocacy and education to survivors of domestic violence and promote the principle that all individuals have the right to life free of abuse.

Since 1976, our emergency shelter and supportive outreach case management programs have offered individuals and their children the opportunity to rest and heal both emotionally and physically in a supportive environment. We believe you. You are not alone and we can help!

If you or someone you know is living in an abusive situation, call 417–864-SAFE (7233) to speak with an advocate.

---

References 

1. Arizona State University Office of Gender-Based Violence. (n.d.). Black, Indigenous, & Latina women, intimate partner violence, and police experiences. ASU Social Work. https://socialwork.asu.edu/sites/default/files/2022-09/black_indigenous_latina_womens_intimate_partner_violence_and_police_experiences_1_0.pdf 

1. T, Buddy. (2023, October 25). How Domestic Violence Varies by Ethnicity. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/domestic-violence-varies-by-ethnicity-62648 

1. Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. (n.d.). Domestic and Sexual Violence and Communities of Color. Portland Community College. https://www.pcc.edu/illumination/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2018/05/domestic-violence-communities-color.pdf 

1. Kelly, L., Spencer, C., Stith, S., & Beliard, C. (202, February 6). “I’m Black, I’m strong, and I need help”: Toxic Black femininity and intimate partner violence. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 12(1) https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12358 

1. Brown, Jessica. (2022, July 7). Fifty years later, Title IX does not fulfill promise to Black women. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. https://www.diverseeducation.com/opinion/article/15293960/fifty-years-later-title-ix-does-not-fulfill-promise-to-black-women 

1. Jones, Feminista. (2014, September 10). Ray Rice: Black women struggle more with domestic violence. TIME. https://time.com/3313343/ray-rice-black-women-domestic-violence/ 

1. Finoh, Maya & Sankofa, Jasmine. (2019, January 28). The legal system has failed Black girls, women, and non-binary survivors of violence. ACLU. https://www.aclu.org/news/racial-justice/legal-system-has-failed-black-girls-women-and-non 

1. Alsalem, Reem. (2022, April 12). Violence against indigenous women and girls. United Nationas Human Rights - A/HRC/50/26. https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5026-violence-against-indigenous-women-and-girls-report-special 

1. National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center. (2022, August 24). Domestic Violence Is Not Traditional: Speaking Truth And Uplifting Advocacy for and With Survivors. National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center. https://www.niwrc.org/news/domestic-violence-not-traditional-speaking-truth-and-uplifting-advocacy-and-survivors