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No Resting Place: African American Women at the Crossroads of Violence

NCJ Number
212367
Journal
Violence Against Women: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal Volume: 11 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2005 Pages: 1473-1489
Author(s)
Janette Y. Taylor
Date Published
December 2005
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study explored the difficulties African-American women face when trying to obtain and sustain safe environments after leaving violent relationships.
Abstract
It is a widespread assumption that although temporary and safe housing for survivor-victims of intimate male partner violence (IMPV) is limited, it is equally accessible to all women who require it. However, women of color may encounter individual and institutional racism within service delivery systems, thus complicating their attempts to find safe shelter. The purpose of the current study was to gain a better understanding of the intersection of gender and cultural violence faced by African-American female survivor-victims of IMPV as they attempt to find and sustain safe housing. The author conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of 21 African-American female survivor-victims of IMPV, who were recruited by fliers and word of mouth. Data were analyzed from a qualitative, womanist perspective that gave primacy to the knowledge of the survivor-victims. The findings demonstrate that the violence experienced by African-American women is influenced by their race, gender, and class. It was also revealed that in addition to facing violence and discrimination at home and in encounters with service delivery systems, women of color must also overcome violence and discrimination in the workplace as part of their emancipation. References