Although many of the experiences of African-Americans are similar to women of other ethnic backgrounds, culture and ethnicity is clearly critically important in shaping the experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) in terms of the patterns and types of violence and abuse perpetrated, the perceptions and responses of the women, and the reactions of the families and communities within which such violence occurs. Across the four studies, African-American women reported slightly more frequent and severe recent physical violence and slightly more forced sex. The concept of abuse and violence among African-American women is expressed in many forms and should be understood from a larger framework. They perhaps learn to expect and tolerate violence from society in the form of prejudice and discrimination, blatant and subtle rejection, inadequate educational opportunities, and disrespect from many authority figures during their lives. Based on the findings, it is evident that intimate partner violence has a cultural context and must be studied from a culture-specific perspective with appropriate interventions. References