Cultural Issues inDomestic ViolenceDomestic Violence

Presented ByBy Daniel Houston & Associates

www.danhoustonassociates.com

Workshop GoalsWorkshop Goals

• To review the impact of DV regarding women of color and poor communities

• To review why men of color batterTo review why men of color batter• To explore the impact of DV on children

Why a workshop on Culture and DV?Why a workshop on Culture and DV?• Research and arrest records indicate that the number of

f l i l ti l lwomen of color is relatively large• Battered black women are often obscure and ignored • Those who have endured abuse by intimate partners are• Those who have endured abuse by intimate partners are

often invisible to the general public• Children and adults are sometimes further victimized by

institutions

Definition of Abusive Relationshipsd h t Childand what Children see

Abusive relationships include various forms of pmaltreatment by intimate partners as recognized by Rosemarie Tong:

N l h i l b– Nonsexual physical abuse– Sexual abuse

P h l i l b (t d i till f )– Psychological abuse (to demean or instill fear)– Destruction of property and pets

And a fifth type: Economic related abuse– And a fifth type: Economic–related abuse• (Abuse is similar, but response maybe different)

IntroductionsIntroductions

• NameName• Position

How might DV affect children?

How can we help children o ca e e p c d ewho have experienced trauma from DV situations?

The Extent of Intimate Partner AbuseThe Extent of Intimate Partner Abuse

Evidence suggests:gg• Homicide by intimate partners = leading cause of death

for black women (1997)– While U.S. women in general experience lower rates

of DV,– Women of color continue to experience high rates– Women of color continue to experience high rates

• Native American Women = 18.2%• Black Women = 8.2%• White Women = 6.3%• Asian Women = 1.5%

The National Violence Against Women Survey 2002

Stats on ChildrenStats on Children

• 15.5 million U.S. children see it at least once15.5 million U.S. children see it at least once• 53% to 70% of male batterers also abuse

children• Women who are abused are two times likely to

abuse a child• Children from abusive homes are physically or

sexually abused or seriously neglected at a rate of 15 times national average

• 45% to 70% of battered women in shelters report the presence of child abuse in their homes

Reasons Black Women Believe Bl k M B ttBlack Men Batter

• His predicaments and struggles in society are complicated by gender rolescomplicated by gender roles

• Incarceration is a factor• Economic concernsEconomic concerns• Race matters• Intergenerational diffusion of family• A dislike of women• Impact of alcohol and other drugs

For Colored GirlsFor Colored Girls

• What are your general impressions?What are your general impressions?

• Other Possible Questions:

• Any impressions of the abused woman or questions for her?

• Any impressions of the batterer or any questions for him?• Any signs of traumatic stress for children?• Any signs of traumatic stress for children?• Impressions of other characters in the video?

Why Don’t They leave?Why Don t They leave?

• A combination of the emotions love and despairp

• Financial dependence on the batterer

• Control and isolation

• Unaware that it’s abuseUnaware that it s abuse

• Social status

• Feeling sorry for the man’s background/childhood

Distrust and FearDistrust and Fear

“There were times when I didn’t want to use the policeThere were times when I didn t want to use the police or courts because I didn’t trust that the system would work for me like it might work for someone else. Not

h f b t j t f ( b ’ ) bso much for me, but just for (abuser’s name) because of the fairness to him as a man of color. It’s like I’m still looking out for him.” (age 32; 6 months out of thestill looking out for him. (age 32; 6 months out of the relationship)

What might these terms mean when d ibi b tt d f l ?describing battered women of color?

Victim• Victim

• Victim -- Survivors

• Survivors

• Resister

• Dynamic ResisterDynamic Resister

Dynamic ResistanceDynamic Resistance

Research suggests that black women view themselves as ggresisters

– They do not see themselves as victims and others do t th i tinot see them as victims

– Self-perception as fighters– Self-perception as fighters

– Self-perception as strong black womenp p g

– Personal and ancestral history

Three-stage Leaving ProcessThree stage Leaving Process

• One: The Being in the Relationship Stageg p g• The women learn to endure the violence. They use

a variety of coping mechanisms including, denial, t l ti tt ti i id d d i kicontemplating or attempting suicide, and drinking

• Two: The Getting Out Stage• They recognize the extent of the abuse; usually a

catalyst occurs such as seeing the effect of abuse on their children; can receive both positive andon their children; can receive both positive and negative feedback from authorities, community, family and friends

Three-stage Leaving Processg g• Three: The Getting on Stage

Th i i i d d i• They experience a mourning period, during which they grieve the loss of their idealized relationship, their sense of identity and their trust p yin others

Strategies for DisengagingStrategies for Disengaging

• Defining moments: rejecting the violence and exiting the g j g grelationship

• Listening to other women’s storiesListening to other women s stories

• Witnessing the abuser’s violence toward others

• Observing the impact on children

• Accepting the partner’s rejectionAccepting the partner s rejection

• Encouragement from other women

Strategies for Moving AwayStrategies for Moving Away

• Seeking shelter and safetySeeking shelter and safety• Negotiating nonsupportive networks

Moving On: Fi di Affi ti d S tFinding Affirmation and Support

• Valuing the wisdom of community eldersy

• Listening to supportive family and pp yfriends

Moving OnMoving On“There were five African-American elder women in my life who I looked up to as role models and they understoodwho I looked up to as role models and they understood what was happening in terms of abuse. They told me that I was going through a storm and that one day that storm

ld d I ld b bl t h l lwould pass, and I would be able to help someone else. They were there for me emotionally, financially and spiritually. (age 47; recovering 14 years)

Use of Religion and SpiritualityUse of Religion and Spirituality

• Important cultural pcomponents

• Tend to find religion and i fprayer as main sources of

dealing with abusive relationships

– Why is the above a blessing for some and ga barrier for other battered women?

Getting Out with HelpGetting Out with Help

• Perceptions of medical services p• Perceptions of battered

women’s shelters • Experiences with the criminal

justice system

– Police intervention– Victim arrest

Prosecutorial and judicial– Prosecutorial and judicial interventions

Conclusion: The ResponseConclusion: The Response

• We must address the problem of intimate partner abuse against women of colorwomen of color

• Allow us to draw attention to women of color’s role and contribution to society

• Understand the relationship between childhood traumatic stress and DV