Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDomestic Violence and IdentityAbuse Among Non-White GroupsArrests and Convictions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Domestic Violence and Identity
Abuse Among Non-White Groups
Arrests and Convictions
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.
Top Warning Signs of Domestic Abuse
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 apower imbalance in a relationship. In these situations, one partner uses physical violence as well as tactics likeemotional abuse,verbal abuse, andfinancial abuseto maintain control.
The reasons behind the choice to abuse another person are complicated. For many, it is the result ofjealousy, low self-esteem, or poorimpulse control. Other people may have apersonality disorderor 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 withdiscrimination, economic insecurity, and pregnancy.
If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact theNational Domestic Violence Hotlineat1-800-799-7233for confidential assistance from trained advocates.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact theNational Domestic Violence Hotlineat1-800-799-7233for confidential assistance from trained advocates.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Violence Among Non-White Groups
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.
Challenges for Black Women
Unique Issues Facing Black Women Dealing With Abuse
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.
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?
Recap
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.
Behind the Keyboard: Spotting Digital Dating Violence
8 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gracia E.Unreported cases of domestic violence against women: towards an epidemiology of social silence, tolerance, and inhibition.Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. 2004;58(7):536-537. doi:10.1136/jech.2003.019604Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The national intimate partner and sexual violence survey: 2010-2012 state report.Lacey KK, West CM, Matusko N, Jackson JS.Prevalence and factors associated with severe physical intimate partner violence among U.S. Black women: A comparison of African American and Caribbean Blacks.Violence Against Women. 2016;22(6):651-670. doi:10.1177/1077801215610014National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol-related intimate partner violence among White, Black, and Hispanic couples in the United States.Women of Color Network.Domestic violence in communities of color.Violence Policy Center.When men murder women: An analysis of 2018 homicide data. September 2020.U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.Intimate partner violence, 1993-2010.Stockman JK, Hayashi H, Campbell JC.Intimate partner violence and its health impact on ethnic minority women.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2015;24(1):62-79. doi:10.1089/jwh.2014.4879Additional ReadingCaetano R, Field CA, Ramisetty-Mikler S, McGrath C.The 5-year course of intimate partner violence among white, black, and Hispanic couples in the United States.J Interpers Violence. 2005;20(9):1039-1057. doi:10.1177/0886260505277783Field CA, Caetano R.Longitudinal model predicting partner violence among white, black, and Hispanic couples in the United States.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003;27(9):1451-1458. doi:10.1097/01.ALC.0000086066.70540.8CGrossman SF, Lundy M.Domestic violence across race and ethnicity: implications for social work practice and policy.Violence Against Women. 2007;13(10):1029-1052. doi:10.1177/1077801207306018Reina AS, Lohman BJ, Maldonado MM.“He said they’d deport me”: factors influencing domestic violence help-seeking practices among Latina immigrants.J Interpers Violence. 2014;29(4):593-615. doi:10.1177/0886260513505214U.S. Department of Justice.Family violence statistics.
8 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gracia E.Unreported cases of domestic violence against women: towards an epidemiology of social silence, tolerance, and inhibition.Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. 2004;58(7):536-537. doi:10.1136/jech.2003.019604Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The national intimate partner and sexual violence survey: 2010-2012 state report.Lacey KK, West CM, Matusko N, Jackson JS.Prevalence and factors associated with severe physical intimate partner violence among U.S. Black women: A comparison of African American and Caribbean Blacks.Violence Against Women. 2016;22(6):651-670. doi:10.1177/1077801215610014National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol-related intimate partner violence among White, Black, and Hispanic couples in the United States.Women of Color Network.Domestic violence in communities of color.Violence Policy Center.When men murder women: An analysis of 2018 homicide data. September 2020.U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.Intimate partner violence, 1993-2010.Stockman JK, Hayashi H, Campbell JC.Intimate partner violence and its health impact on ethnic minority women.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2015;24(1):62-79. doi:10.1089/jwh.2014.4879Additional ReadingCaetano R, Field CA, Ramisetty-Mikler S, McGrath C.The 5-year course of intimate partner violence among white, black, and Hispanic couples in the United States.J Interpers Violence. 2005;20(9):1039-1057. doi:10.1177/0886260505277783Field CA, Caetano R.Longitudinal model predicting partner violence among white, black, and Hispanic couples in the United States.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003;27(9):1451-1458. doi:10.1097/01.ALC.0000086066.70540.8CGrossman SF, Lundy M.Domestic violence across race and ethnicity: implications for social work practice and policy.Violence Against Women. 2007;13(10):1029-1052. doi:10.1177/1077801207306018Reina AS, Lohman BJ, Maldonado MM.“He said they’d deport me”: factors influencing domestic violence help-seeking practices among Latina immigrants.J Interpers Violence. 2014;29(4):593-615. doi:10.1177/0886260513505214U.S. Department of Justice.Family violence statistics.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Gracia E.Unreported cases of domestic violence against women: towards an epidemiology of social silence, tolerance, and inhibition.Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. 2004;58(7):536-537. doi:10.1136/jech.2003.019604Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The national intimate partner and sexual violence survey: 2010-2012 state report.Lacey KK, West CM, Matusko N, Jackson JS.Prevalence and factors associated with severe physical intimate partner violence among U.S. Black women: A comparison of African American and Caribbean Blacks.Violence Against Women. 2016;22(6):651-670. doi:10.1177/1077801215610014National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol-related intimate partner violence among White, Black, and Hispanic couples in the United States.Women of Color Network.Domestic violence in communities of color.Violence Policy Center.When men murder women: An analysis of 2018 homicide data. September 2020.U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.Intimate partner violence, 1993-2010.Stockman JK, Hayashi H, Campbell JC.Intimate partner violence and its health impact on ethnic minority women.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2015;24(1):62-79. doi:10.1089/jwh.2014.4879
Gracia E.Unreported cases of domestic violence against women: towards an epidemiology of social silence, tolerance, and inhibition.Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. 2004;58(7):536-537. doi:10.1136/jech.2003.019604
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The national intimate partner and sexual violence survey: 2010-2012 state report.
Lacey KK, West CM, Matusko N, Jackson JS.Prevalence and factors associated with severe physical intimate partner violence among U.S. Black women: A comparison of African American and Caribbean Blacks.Violence Against Women. 2016;22(6):651-670. doi:10.1177/1077801215610014
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol-related intimate partner violence among White, Black, and Hispanic couples in the United States.
Women of Color Network.Domestic violence in communities of color.
Violence Policy Center.When men murder women: An analysis of 2018 homicide data. September 2020.
U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.Intimate partner violence, 1993-2010.
Stockman JK, Hayashi H, Campbell JC.Intimate partner violence and its health impact on ethnic minority women.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2015;24(1):62-79. doi:10.1089/jwh.2014.4879
Caetano R, Field CA, Ramisetty-Mikler S, McGrath C.The 5-year course of intimate partner violence among white, black, and Hispanic couples in the United States.J Interpers Violence. 2005;20(9):1039-1057. doi:10.1177/0886260505277783Field CA, Caetano R.Longitudinal model predicting partner violence among white, black, and Hispanic couples in the United States.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003;27(9):1451-1458. doi:10.1097/01.ALC.0000086066.70540.8CGrossman SF, Lundy M.Domestic violence across race and ethnicity: implications for social work practice and policy.Violence Against Women. 2007;13(10):1029-1052. doi:10.1177/1077801207306018Reina AS, Lohman BJ, Maldonado MM.“He said they’d deport me”: factors influencing domestic violence help-seeking practices among Latina immigrants.J Interpers Violence. 2014;29(4):593-615. doi:10.1177/0886260513505214U.S. Department of Justice.Family violence statistics.
Caetano R, Field CA, Ramisetty-Mikler S, McGrath C.The 5-year course of intimate partner violence among white, black, and Hispanic couples in the United States.J Interpers Violence. 2005;20(9):1039-1057. doi:10.1177/0886260505277783
Field CA, Caetano R.Longitudinal model predicting partner violence among white, black, and Hispanic couples in the United States.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003;27(9):1451-1458. doi:10.1097/01.ALC.0000086066.70540.8C
Grossman SF, Lundy M.Domestic violence across race and ethnicity: implications for social work practice and policy.Violence Against Women. 2007;13(10):1029-1052. doi:10.1177/1077801207306018
Reina AS, Lohman BJ, Maldonado MM.“He said they’d deport me”: factors influencing domestic violence help-seeking practices among Latina immigrants.J Interpers Violence. 2014;29(4):593-615. doi:10.1177/0886260513505214
U.S. Department of Justice.Family violence statistics.
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