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- Keyword
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- Intimate partner violence (15)
- African American women (10)
- African Americans (7)
- Dating violence (5)
- Sexual assault (5)
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- Domestic violence (4)
- Sexual harassment (4)
- Childhood sexual abuse (3)
- Jezebel (3)
- Lesbians (3)
- Mammy (3)
- Media images (3)
- Sapphire (3)
- Asian American (2)
- Asian Americans (2)
- Black feminism (2)
- Gay men (2)
- Healing (2)
- Sexualization (2)
- Treatment (2)
- Abortion (1)
- Activism (1)
- African American (1)
- African American men (1)
- Africans (1)
- American American women (1)
- American Indians (1)
- Bisexual (1)
- Black adolescent girls (1)
- Black feminist theory (1)
Articles 1 - 30 of 33
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Living In A Web Of Trauma: An Ecological Examination Of Violence Among African Americans, Carolyn M. West
Living In A Web Of Trauma: An Ecological Examination Of Violence Among African Americans, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
The purpose of this chapter is to review the literature to explore reasons why African Americans are overrepresented among victims and perpetrators of interpersonal violence. In the first section, I will define historical trauma and discuss gender differences in prevalence rates of fatal and nonfatal violent criminal victimization and prevalence rates of physical, sexual, and psychological intimate partner violence. In the next section, I will describe the ecological model and discuss risk factors for interpersonal violence at the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels. To conclude, I will offer suggestions for intervention and prevention strategies to address risk factors at …
African Immigrant Women And Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review, Carolyn M. West
African Immigrant Women And Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
The purpose of this article is to systematically review and synthesize the available empirical research related to intimate partner violence (IPV) in the lives of African immigrant women. A comprehensive literature search for articles that were published between the years of 2005 and 2015 was performed using the following databases: Academic Search Complete, Criminal Justice Abstracts, CINAHL Plus, Family Studies Abstract, JSOR, MEDline, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, Social Sciences Citation Index, and Social Services Abstract. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. The literature on prevalence rates and types of violence, risk factors for IPV, mental health problems and coping strategies, and help-seeking …
Prevalence And Factors Associated With Severe Physical Intimate Partner Violence Among U.S. Black Women: A Comparison Of African American And Caribbean Blacks, Krim K. Lacey, Carolyn M. West, Niki Matusko, James S. Jackson
Prevalence And Factors Associated With Severe Physical Intimate Partner Violence Among U.S. Black Women: A Comparison Of African American And Caribbean Blacks, Krim K. Lacey, Carolyn M. West, Niki Matusko, James S. Jackson
Carolyn M. West
This study explored prevalence rates and factors associated with lifetime severe physical intimate partner violence among U.S. Black women. Data from the National Survey of American Life were examined. Rates of severe physical intimate partner violence were higher among African American women compared with U.S. Caribbean Black women. Risk factors associated with reported abuse were similar to those found in earlier studies but differed by ethnic backgrounds. Demographic, resource, and situational factors were associated with severe physical intimate partner violence among U.S. Black women in general but made unique contributions by ethnic group. Implications and suggestions for future studies were …
Hidden In Plain Sight.Pdf, Carolyn M. West
Hidden In Plain Sight.Pdf, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
Black women are the target of so much violence that their victimization has become normalized, such that it is no longer visible or as I prefer to call it: (in)visible. The purpose of this chapter is to explain this paradox. First, I will review the research on intimate partner violence (IPV) in the lives of Black women. By contexualizing Black women's use of violence, I will make the gendered nature of IPV more evident. There is rich demographic diversity among Black women. In order to make these subpopulations more visible, I will use intersectional analyses that considers the victims' social …
Introducing Sexualization Media And Society, Ana J. Bridges Ph.D., Deirdre M. Condit, Gail Dines, Jennifer A. Johnson, Carolyn M. West
Introducing Sexualization Media And Society, Ana J. Bridges Ph.D., Deirdre M. Condit, Gail Dines, Jennifer A. Johnson, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
As the inaugural editorial board, we are honored to announce the introduction of Sexualization, Media, & Society (SMS), a new research journal intended to disseminate high-quality scholarship examining the influence of sexualized media in all forms on individuals, relationships, communities, and society. Hosted by Wheelock College and Virginia Commonwealth University, this new journal adopts a critical perspective aiming to integrate social, behavioral, political, economic, ethical, cultural, and health research into a comprehensive academic and professional resource.
Violence, Racial, Carolyn M. West
Violence, Racial, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
Many enslaved women experienced a lifetime of racial violence. Due to the social and historical constructions of race, black women often endured physical violence, sexual assault (including rape, forced breeding, and the manipulation of their reproductive lives), and even race-based medical experimentation.
Partner Abuse In Ethnic Minority And Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, And Transgender Populations, Carolyn M. West
Partner Abuse In Ethnic Minority And Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, And Transgender Populations, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
This review seeks to synthesize the current state of knowledge regarding gender differences in rates of physical and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) prevalence among the four largest racial/ethnic groups (African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, and Native American) in the United States, compares rates of physical and psychological IPV between sexual minorities and heterosexuals and among subgroups of sexual minorities (gay men, lesbians, bisexuals), and summarizes correlates and risk factors that are associated with rates of IPV in both ethnic and sexual minorities.
Resistance As Recovery: Winning A Sexual Harassment Complaint, Carolyn M. West
Resistance As Recovery: Winning A Sexual Harassment Complaint, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
The purpose of this chapter is to attach a name and story to the disembodied statistics on sexual harassment. The details of the harassment that I endured from February 1987 until the summer of 1990 are laid out in the first section of this chapter. In the second section, I specify how my feminist beliefs enabled me to identify and craft a strategy to address the harassment. Finally, I explain how feminism helped me during my recovery process.
Still On The Auction Block: The (S)Exploitation Of Black Adolescent Girls In Rap(E) Music And Hip-Hop Culture, Carolyn M. West
Still On The Auction Block: The (S)Exploitation Of Black Adolescent Girls In Rap(E) Music And Hip-Hop Culture, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
Displaying anonymous, nude Black female bodies has a long history in Western societies, from the exhibition of enslaved women on the auction block to representations of Black female bodies in contemporary hip-hop music videos. The purpose of this chapter is to (1) discuss six sexual scripts that are commonly found in hip-hop culture and music videos; (2) examine possible consequences associated with exposure to hip-hop scripts for Black girls; and (3) make suggestions for intervention.
Sexual Harassment In The Lives Of Women Of Color, Nicole T. Buchanan, Carolyn M. West
Sexual Harassment In The Lives Of Women Of Color, Nicole T. Buchanan, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
The purpose of this chapter is to review sexual harassment research as it pertains to Women of Color in the United States. We first review the legal, behavioral, and psychological definitions of sexual harassment and then examine the research on racial/ethnic differences in the frequency, perceptions, psychological consequences, and coping strategies related to sexual harassment among African American, Latina, and Asian American women. Finally, we conclude with suggestions for future research.
Abortion And Mental Health: Evaluating The Evidence, Brenda Major, Mark Appelbaum, Linda Beckman, Mary Ann Dutton, Nancy Felipe Russo, Carolyn M. West
Abortion And Mental Health: Evaluating The Evidence, Brenda Major, Mark Appelbaum, Linda Beckman, Mary Ann Dutton, Nancy Felipe Russo, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
The authors evaluated empirical research addressing the relationship between induced abortion and women's mental health. Two issues were addressed: (a) the relative risks associated with abortion compared with the risks associated with its alternatives and (b) sources of variability in women's responses following abortion. This article reflects and updates the report of the American Psychological Association Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion (2008). Major methodological problems pervaded most of the research reviewed. The most rigorous studies indicated that within the United States, the relative risk of mental health problems among adult women who have a single, legal, first-trimester abortion of …
Mammy, Jezebel, Sapphire And Their Homegirls: Developing An "Oppositional Gaze" Toward The Images Of Black Women, Carolyn M. West
Mammy, Jezebel, Sapphire And Their Homegirls: Developing An "Oppositional Gaze" Toward The Images Of Black Women, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
First, I will discuss why the Mammy, Jezebel, and Sapphire images were created, why they persist, and how they evolved into contemporary images of, among others, the strong Black woman, freak, and gangsta girl. Second, researchers have documented a link between the internalization of negative stereotypes and chronic health problems, psychological distress, and low self-esteem. Accordingly, I will discuss how the Mammy image can contribute to role strain, which is the challenge of balancing multiple roles, and to concerns about physical features, including skin color, hair texture, and weight. Next, I will discuss how the Jezebel image shapes perceptions of …
"A Thin Line Betwen Love And Hate"?: Black Men As Victims And Perpetrators Of Dating Violence, Carolyn M. West
"A Thin Line Betwen Love And Hate"?: Black Men As Victims And Perpetrators Of Dating Violence, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
Black men are a resilient, diverse group of individuals. However, due to their economic and socially marginalized status, they are at increased risk for intimate partner violence. The purpose of this article is to review the literature and discuss (a) Black men as victims of psychological, sexual, and physical dating violence; (b) Black men as perpetrators of the aforementioned forms of violence; (c) risk factors that make Black men vulnerable to dating violence, including socioeconomic status, exposure to family violence during childhood, and exposure to community violence; (d) limitations of the current research and future research directions; and (e) suggestions …
Dating Violence Among African American Couples, Carolyn M. West
Dating Violence Among African American Couples, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
Dating violence can occur across all racial/ethnic groups. However, African Americans are overrepresented in demographic categories that are at increased risk for dating violence.
Revising The Ses: A Collaborative Process To Improve Assessment Of Sexual Aggression And Victimization, Mary P. Koss, Antonia Abbey, Rebecca Campbell, Sarah Cook, Jeanette Norris, Maria Testa, Sarah Ullman, Carolyn M. West, Jacquelyn White
Revising The Ses: A Collaborative Process To Improve Assessment Of Sexual Aggression And Victimization, Mary P. Koss, Antonia Abbey, Rebecca Campbell, Sarah Cook, Jeanette Norris, Maria Testa, Sarah Ullman, Carolyn M. West, Jacquelyn White
Carolyn M. West
The Sexual Experiences Survey (SES) assesses victimization and perpetration of unwanted sexual experiences. Revised versions of the SES that resulted from the work of the SES Collaboration are now available. This article reviews weaknesses of the SES that were identified, strengths that were preserved, and methodological considerations in the measurement of unwanted sexual experiences that informed the revisions. The primary changes include: more behavioral specificity; conversion to gender neutrality; full crossing of unwanted acts and coercive tactics; and revised and updated wording for assessing consent, alcohol-related incidents, unwanted acts, and coercive tactics. For illustration, the full text of the revised …
"Sorry Have To Take You In": Black Battered Women Arrested For Intimate Partner Violence, Carolyn M. West
"Sorry Have To Take You In": Black Battered Women Arrested For Intimate Partner Violence, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
The purpose of the present effort is to examine the experiences of Black victim-defendants. To begin, an integration of both the family violence gender symmetry perspective and the contextual perspective is reviewed, with a particular focus on Black women's use of violence within heterosexual relationships. The concept of bidirectional asymmetric violence is then developed as a result of that integration. This is followed by an exploration of possible factors that may contribute to Black women's overrepresentation in the legal system, including the enactment of mandatory arrest laws. Because feminist scholars have used life histories to document the experiences of Black …
Domestic Violence In Ethnically And Racially Diverse Families: The "Political Gag Order" Has Been Lifted, Carolyn M. West
Domestic Violence In Ethnically And Racially Diverse Families: The "Political Gag Order" Has Been Lifted, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
Partner violence occurs in a larger historical and cultural context. In the first section, I establish this context by reviewing the demographic characteristics of the four largest ethnic groups, highlighting significant historical events, identifying contemporary challenges faced by each group, and emphasizing cultural strengths that may act as protective factors. In the second section, I use national probability studies to review the research on ethnic differences in intimate partner violence. The final section discusses how the intersection of oppressions may create demographic and cultural factors that increase the risk of violence in families of color.
Violence--Black Women In America: An Historical Encyclopedia, Carolyn M. West
Violence--Black Women In America: An Historical Encyclopedia, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
Covers (1) Historical origins of violence; (2) Types of violence; (3) characteristics of victims; (4) mental and physical health consequences; (5) barriers to escaping violence; (6) suggestions for intervention.
Black Women And Intimate Partner Violence: New Directions For Research, Carolyn M. West
Black Women And Intimate Partner Violence: New Directions For Research, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
African American women are at elevated risk for nonfatal and lethal intimate partner violence. Accordingly, the purpose of this article is to review our current knowledge, with a focus on the sociodemographic factors that make this population particularly vulnerable to abuse. Future research directions include using more diverse Black samples, considering how living at the intersection of multiple forms of oppression shapes Black women's experience with violence, exploring the influence of historical events and oppressive images on victimization, and focusing on survivors' resilience and activism.
Mammy, Jezebel, And Sapphire: Developing An "Oppositional Gaze" Toward The Images Of Black Women, Carolyn M. West
Mammy, Jezebel, And Sapphire: Developing An "Oppositional Gaze" Toward The Images Of Black Women, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
First, I will begin with a brief historical overview, which discusses why these images were created and why they persist. Second, I will explore how these images may influence the psychological functioning of some Black women. Specifically, I will discuss how the Mammy image can contribute to role strain, which is the challenge of balancing multiple roles, concerns about physical features, including skin color, hair texture, and weight. Next, I will discuss how the Jezebel image shapes perceptions of Black women's sexuality and victimization. Finally, I will explore how Black women's expression of anger is shaped by the Sapphire image.
"Feminism Is A Black Thing?": Feminist Contributions To Black Family Life, Carolyn M. West
"Feminism Is A Black Thing?": Feminist Contributions To Black Family Life, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
This essay is a review of feminist contributions to Black family life. More specifically, I will define feminism, review Black feminist history, and discuss the research on feminist attitudes among African Americans. The concluding section will explore how a feminist perspective can help us to understand diversity among Black families, gender and family roles enacted by men and women, childhood gender socialization, and intimate partner violence.
Black Battered Women: New Directions For Research And Black Feminist Theory, Carolyn M. West
Black Battered Women: New Directions For Research And Black Feminist Theory, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
In the first section of this chapter I will review the research on racial differences and similarities in the rates and types of physical partner violence across the relationship continuum. In the section section, I will focus on new directions for research. More specifically, methodological problems may influence the research findings, and thus our understanding of racial differences in domestic violence. I will review these research limitations and offer suggestions for more appropriate research methods. The goal of the final section is to articulate a Black feminist theoretical perspective that better explains violence in the lives of Black women.
Lesbian Intimate Partner Violence: Prevalence And Dynamics, Carolyn M. West
Lesbian Intimate Partner Violence: Prevalence And Dynamics, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
Researchers have been investigating partner violence for more than 20 years, yet there is a discernible absence of research on interpersonal violence among lesbian couples. Three aspects of lesbian battering are reviewed here. First, the incidence rates and distinct forms that lesbian battering are discussed. Next, the dynamics and correlates of lesbian abuse are highlighted. The concluding section focuses on suggestions for intervention.
Battered, Black, And Blue: An Overview Of Violence In The The Lives Of Black Women, Carolyn M. West
Battered, Black, And Blue: An Overview Of Violence In The The Lives Of Black Women, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
The purpose of this article is to review the many forms of violence in the lives of African American women, including childhood sexual abuse, dating violence, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. The first section will address definitions of violence, prevalence rates and risk factors, and suggest new directions for research.The second section is a review of the most common psychological sequelae associated with Black women's victimization. The final section is devoted to activities that promote healing, including therapy, participation in research studies, and activism.
"I Find Myself At Therapy's Doorstep": Summary And Suggested Readings On Violence In The Lives Of Black Women, Carolyn M. West
"I Find Myself At Therapy's Doorstep": Summary And Suggested Readings On Violence In The Lives Of Black Women, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
This volume used a Black feminist framework to investigate childhood sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and community violence in the lives of African American women. This article will summarize the authors' findings, review their suggestions for intervention, and provide a list of readings and resources.
Adult Sexual Revictimization Among Black Women Sexually Abused In Childhood: A Prospective Examination Of Serious Consequences Of Abuse, Carolyn M. West, Linda M. Williams, Jane A. Siegel
Adult Sexual Revictimization Among Black Women Sexually Abused In Childhood: A Prospective Examination Of Serious Consequences Of Abuse, Carolyn M. West, Linda M. Williams, Jane A. Siegel
Carolyn M. West
This study is a prospective investigation of adult sexual revictimization among 113 Black women with documented histories of childhood sexual abuse. The purpose was to obtain information on the frequency of sexual abuse in both childhood and adulthood and to determine which characteristics of the child sexual abuse were predictive of revictimization. Thirty percent of the participants were revictimized and physical force predicted subsequent victimization. This study also investigated possible sexual behavioral correlates of revictimization. Revictimized women reported more involvement in prostitution and partner violence. Finally, the present study considered the reproductive and sexual health correlates of revictimization. When compared …
Dating Aggression Among Low Income African American Youth: An Examination Of Gender Differences And Antagonistic Beliefs, Carolyn M. West
Dating Aggression Among Low Income African American Youth: An Examination Of Gender Differences And Antagonistic Beliefs, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
Prevalence of aggression inflicted and sustained in dating relationships was investigated for 171 low income African American youth. More women were victims of choking, attempted forced intercourse, and hurt feelings. As perpetrators, more women reported making threats, throwing objects, and hitting their partner. However, men perpetrated more serious sexual and psychological aggression, including forced breast fondling, attempted forced intercourse, and making a partner feel inferior and degrading her.Women victims of sexual aggression, when compared to nonvictims, expressed more agreement with adversarial sexual beliefs regarding male-female relationships. More than one third of the participants endorsed antagonistic beliefs concerning Black male-female relationships. …
Youth Dating Violence, Carolyn M. West
Youth Dating Violence, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
The present study on dating violence examined the responses of 37 adolescents enrolled in an alternative high school program. Many reported psychological victimization in a dating relationship. Many of the adolescents had also been victims of physical violence in their dating relationships.The findings confirm that dating violence among adolescents is a serious health problem that needs to be addressed.
Leaving A Second Closet: Outing Partner Violence In Same-Sex Couples, Carolyn M. West
Leaving A Second Closet: Outing Partner Violence In Same-Sex Couples, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the emerging literature on same-sex partner violence. First, a brief description of the challenges and types of discrimination faced by this population is presented. Second, the incidence rates and distinct forms that gay and lesbian battering might assume are discussed. Next, correlates of partner violence and research limitations are highlighted. Finally, treatment implications and recommendations for policy are suggested.
Lifting The "Political Gag Order": Breaking The Silence Around Partner Violence In Ethnic Minority Families, Carolyn M. West
Lifting The "Political Gag Order": Breaking The Silence Around Partner Violence In Ethnic Minority Families, Carolyn M. West
Carolyn M. West
This chapter focuses on the four largest groups in the United States: African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and American Indians. First, a brief description of each group is presented. Second, the literature on partner violence among these groups is reviewed. Specifically, ethnic differences, demographic and cultural factors that potentially contribute to higher rates of partner violence among ethnic minorities, and limitations of the research are addressed. Third, therapeutic implications, including barriers to help seeking, hallmarks of culturally appropriate assessments, and culture-specific treatment recommendations are discussed. Finally, recommendations for policy are suggested.