African American Perspectives and Experiences of Domestic Violence in a Rural Community

Abstract

Relatively few studies have explored domestic violence from a multiplicity of African American perspectives, experiences, and socio-demographic backgrounds within rural African American communities. Community-based participatory action research methods were used to explore domestic violence perceptions of African Americans with heterogeneous backgrounds and experiences of violence. Ten focus groups were held throughout the community with 52 diverse women ( n = 33) and men ( n = 19) living in the northwest region of Arkansas. Demographic data were collected from 47 women ( n = 28) and men ( n = 19) participating in focus groups regarding their perceptions and experiences of domestic violence, media messages, help-seeking behaviors, and services. Data were analyzed using grounded theory methods. Three major themes emerged, including (a) a heightened awareness of race, gender, and class differences; (b) imbalanced and mixed messages from media; and (c) multi-systemic dynamics influencing abusive behavior and relationships. Results indicate that study participants' perspectives and experiences with domestic violence reflect a complex interrelated gamut of societal, community, familial, and individual dynamics. Participant recommendations related to interpersonal dynamics, media messages, and societal influences are reported with implications for practice, policy, and future research.

Exploring the Needs and Lived Experiences of Racial and Ethnic Minority Domestic Violence Survivors Through Community-Based Participatory Research: A Systematic Review

“…Similarly, Moya et al (2014) noted how the “study builds on the long-standing collaboration between academic institutions, community-based organizations, and governmental agencies…” (p. 3). Other articles noted how researchers incorporated initial meetings with the CBOs (Valandra, Higgins, & Brown, 2016), adopted a common mission (Shoultz, Magnussen, Hansen, Selifis, & Ifenuk, 2007), or developed a partnership plan, which outlined “goals, rights, responsibilities, and roles and commits all partners to a long-term respectful collaboration where everyone benefits” (Bloom et al, 2009, p. 250). Researchers also built trust in later phases of the research process.…”

“…Articles implemented other strategies to utilize the expertise of the CBO community including supporting recruitment and increased access to participants (Bloom et al, 2009), developing safety protocols (Bhuyan, Mell, Senturia, Sullivan, & Shiu-Thorton, 2005), using the experience of DV advocates to support participants with mental health symptoms (Nicolaidis et al, 2010), instrument development based on participants’ unique experiences (Shoultz et al, 2010), and conducting member checking of data with participants (Valandra et al, 2016). Valandra, Higgins, and Brown (2016) described the use of specific African American cultural traditions as part of the focus group. They explained,consistent with African American cultural traditions of knowledge dissemination through oral, narrative, and metaphoric mediums, focus group participants were given an opportunity to simultaneously listen to and read the lyric of a song…with culturally specific themes.…”

“…Articles described several ways that the research team attended to equal distribution of power in the community–academic partnership. One way to ensure equal power was by developing an advisory board or group (Bhuyan et al, 2005; Gonzalez-Guarda, Cummings, Becerra, Fernandez, & Mesa, 2013; Moya, Chávez-Baray, & Martinez, 2014; Oneha, Magnussen, & Shoultz, 2010; Shiu-Thorton, Senturia, & Sullivan, 2005; Valandra et al, 2016). For example, Bhuyan et al (2005) explained, “to facilitate participation, a Project Advisory Group convened to offer advice and guidance…the PAG advised the project team on recruitment and safety issues in addition to data collection and analysis” (p. 907).…”

“He Would Take My Shoes and All the Baby's Warm Winter Gear so We Couldn't Leave”: Barriers to Safety and Recovery Experienced by a Sample of Vermont Women With Partner Violence and Opioid Use Disorder Experiences

“…Second, our sample of residents of rural Vermont is almost all White, thus our results likely do not capture the experiences of rural residents who are non-White and who face more severe barriers to OUD treatment 5 and remain underrepresented in the rural IPV literature. 33 Third, our eligibility criteria did not require that women had experienced IPV or OUD in the very recent past. It is possible in theory that if they experienced IPV 10 years ago, some of the challenges that they relayed could have been different than what women experience today.…”

A Multi-Systems Life Course Perspective of Economic Abuse

“…In the United States, the legacy of slavery and colonization has resulted in longstanding structural income inequality, economic oppression, and negative stereotypes in which women of color are disproportionately represented as a high-risk group for EA (Rennison & Planty, 2003;Valandra, Murphy-Erby, Higgins, & Brown, 2016). Brush (2004) notes that in the United States women of color are disproportionately represented among recipients of public welfare, a context in which poverty, welfare, work, and vulnerability to IPV and EA intersect.…”