Issues Inherent in the Multicultural Feminist Couple Treatment of African-American, Same-Gender Loving Female Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse

Abstract

This manuscript focuses on four potential stumbling blocks in the multicultural feminist couple treatment of African-American, same-gender loving female adult child sexual abuse survivors: (1) gender roles; (2) "coming out" to self, family, and the community; (3) lesbian cou-

Childhood Sexual Abuse and Adult Sexual Identity Formation: Intersection of Gender, Race, and Sexual Orientation

“…Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Parks, Cutts, Woodson, and Flarity-White (2001) reported that feeling a need to remain closeted about one's sexuality, which is a frequently reported experience within the Black community, could be the foundation of internalized homophobia. It would then make sense that a Black victim of CSA who identifies as gay or lesbian, whether prior to or after the abuse, could feel stigmatized and fearful about openly talking about his/her traumatic abuse experience and asking for help.…”

Intimate Partner Abuse among African American Lesbians: Prevalence, Risk Factors, Theory, and Resilience

“…For example, racism is a concern within the general LGB population, as Caucasian sexual minorities often inadvertently marginalize their ethnic minority counterparts (Miller and Astra Parker 2009). Although institutionalized racism and other forms of discrimination continue to present major problems for ethnic minority groups, there are even further divisions within these groups that result in intragroup marginalization, such as class and color divisions (Harris 2009;Parks et al 2001). African American women also experience sexism and misogyny perpetrated by African American men (Harris 2009;Powell 2008;Tillet 2002).…”

“…Dating back to slavery, African American women in general have been dehumanized, hypersexualized, and "masculinized" (Greene 2000;Parks et al 2001;Tillet 2002;West 1995). As lesbians also tend to be stereotyped as masculine or as "wanting to be men" (Balsam 2001), the African American lesbian IPA survivor may be confronted with a particularly unique form of apathy when seeking Tension Phase:The abuser ruminates on social injustices, stressors, anxieties, and perceived bad aspects of partner's character; partner feels the need to "walk on eggshells" Abusive Episode: Abuser aggresses to punish "bad" partner and regain a sense of control and stability; partner attempts self -defense or escape…”

“…Various forms of oppression (outside the circle) place external pressure on the relationship, while the effects of poverty, traumatic history, mental health symptoms, and internalized forms of oppression (inside the circle) represent internal risk factors. The inner triangle depicts abusers' behavioral tactics during the tension, abusive, and reconciliation phases help, since she is far less likely than her Caucasian heterosexual counterpart to be considered a victim in need of protection, and more likely to be seen as the cause of her own problems (Miller and Astra Parker 2009;Parks et al 2001;Tillet 2002;West 1995West , 2002. The following paragraphs describe some examples of the barriers that African American lesbian IPA survivors face as they compare with barriers faced by their ethnic and sexual majority counterparts.…”

“…However, the African American lesbian IPA survivor may be additionally fearful that her situation will not be taken seriously by a sexist, racist, heterocentric social and legal services system that views her as deviant, hypermasculine, hypersexual, innately aggressive, and therefore either at fault for her own problems or capable of fighting back sufficiently on her own (Greene 2000;Tillet 2002;West 1995). Her distress may be further compounded by factors (e.g., shame, self-devaluation, selfblame) that are a function of prejudices she has experienced within her own group (e.g., religious judgment and condemnation, "colorism," and classism; Parks et al 2001).…”