Key Takeaways
- Women of color experience domestic violence more often than White women, but are less likely to report it.
- Cultural, religious, and social pressures often keep women of color from seeking help when they are victims of domestic violence.
- Economic insecurity, isolation, and discrimination shape how women of color experience and respond to domestic violence.
Unsurprisingly, statistics concerning intimate partner violence vary widely from study to study and year to year. And because abuse is not widely discussed by both victims and perpetrators, many speculate intimate partner violence is probably vastly under-reported.
Research suggests that while around 25% of the population experiences domestic violence, only about 2.5% to 15% report abuse. This is especially true among certain ethnic groups in the United States, as there are many cultures where violence against women is considered common and part of typical family life.
Domestic Violence and Identity
Even with low reporting, the number of women of color impacted by domestic violence is shockingly high. In fact, according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, approximately four out of 10 non-Hispanic Black women, American Indian, or Alaskan Native women, and one in two multi-racial non-Hispanic women have been a victim of physical violence, rape, and/or stalking by a partner in their lifetime.
This rate is 30 to 50% higher than what is experienced by White non-Hispanic, Hispanic, and Asian women.
Women of sexual minorities also experience higher rates of domestic violence, with 44% of lesbian women and 61% of bisexual women experiencing rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
There is also an age pattern, where women between the ages of 18 and 24 are most likely to experience domestic violence, followed by teens between the ages of 11 and 17.
This age pattern was observed among Black women as well. One study found Black women under the age of 30 are three times more likely to experience domestic violence than Black women under the age of 40. The same study also noted that Black women living in impoverished areas are three times more likely to experience domestic violence than those living in other areas.
Understanding Domestic Violence
Domestic violence occurs when there is a power imbalance in a relationship. In these situations, one partner uses physical violence as well as tactics like emotional abuse, verbal abuse, and financial abuse to maintain control.
It’s important to remember the victim of the abuse did nothing to cause it. Abuse is always a choice made by the abuser.
The reasons behind the choice to abuse another person are complicated. For many, it is the result of jealousy, low self-esteem, or poor impulse control. Other people may have a personality disorder or a mental health issue that causes them to be violent and controlling. Others may be abusive and controlling because they witnessed these types of behaviors growing up.
Some life events and activities seem to increase the risk factor for violent behaviors. These include experiences with discrimination, economic insecurity, and pregnancy.
Because the reasons for abuse are so hard to understand, the higher rates of domestic violence among ethnic minorities cannot be explained by a single motivating factor.
Additionally, cohabitation may increase the likelihood that a woman will be victimized by her partner. One study found that Black women who were living with their partner were six times more likely to experience severe domestic violence when compared to their dating and married counterparts. The researchers also noted Black women experienced more severe forms of domestic violence once they were separated or divorced.
Violence Among Non-White Groups
Although completely accurate numbers are not easily available, researchers generally agree that, among ethnic minority groups in the United States, Black people are the most likely to experience domestic violence—either male-to-female or female-to-male—followed by Hispanic people and White people. Asian people are the least likely to experience intimate partner violence.
The Women of Color Network reports economic insecurity, combined with isolation, racism, and discrimination, shape how women of color experience and respond to domestic violence. For instance, non-White women are often more afraid of what will happen if they report abuse than they are of the violence they are enduring.
This fear makes it extremely difficult for these women to get the help they need. This may explain some of the under-reporting.
There are also unique challenges women of color face when it comes to reporting domestic violence. Here are some of the reasons why women of color may not seek help when victimized by an intimate partner:
- Cultural or religious views that keep them in the relationship
- Strong ties and loyalty to their race, culture, and family
- Distrust in law enforcement, the justice system, and social services
- Lack of service providers they can relate to
- Racist and classist stereotypes
- Pressure to keep family matters private
- Fear about immigration status being affected or being deported if they seek help
Challenges for Black Women
Despite the fact Black women experience domestic violence at exceedingly high rates, they are disproportionately more likely to be criminalized by the system when seeking help. Not only must they deal with racism and stereotypes when contacting the police, but they are also routinely arrested when trying to defend themselves against an abusive partner.
Because of this, Black women are disproportionately more likely to die at the hands of an abuser. According to the Violence Policy Center, Black women were murdered by men at nearly three times the rate as White women. in 2018. That represents a rate of 2.85 per 100,000 compared to 1.03 per 100,000.
Arrests and Convictions
The U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) reports on intimate partner violence cases in which someone is arrested and convicted. Their report expresses numbers in terms of victims per 1,000 people.
In 1994, the bureau reported that 15.6 White people, 20.3 Black people, and 18.8 Hispanic people per 1,000 people were victims of domestic violence. But by the year 2010, those numbers had fallen to 6.2, 7.8, and 4.1 people, respectively.
This shows an overall decline of 64% in intimate partner violence victimizations per 1,000 from 1994 to 2010. But remember, the BJS figures reflect only cases in which someone has been arrested and convicted.
Less Violence or Fewer Reports?
When many jurisdictions began passing laws requiring police to take one of the parties involved to jail any time they received a domestic violence call, the number of calls reporting domestic violence declined. There is also evidence many Hispanic victims do not call the police for help because they are told by their abusers they will be deported if they do. Both these situations could skew the statistics for domestic violence.
Prevention
Domestic violence is a significant public health issue with several negative consequences, including everything from broken bones and post-traumatic stress disorder to mental health issues and even death. What’s more, as many as 42.4 million women in the United States experience domestic violence by a partner at some point in their lifetime. And minority women are being disproportionately victimized.
For this reason, it’s important prevention, treatment, and intervention efforts be tailored to the special needs and circumstances of women of color. For instance, programs should empower women of color to seek help by providing services and advocates that demonstrate an understanding of a variety of races and cultures.
Likewise, these programs need to address issues like historical racism, immigration concerns, socioeconomic issues, language barriers, and an overall fear of the legal system. When these hurdles are addressed and adequate services are provided, the number of women of color suffering from abuse may decrease.
