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
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