Why Do Black Women Experience More Domestic Violence?

While public awareness of the issue of domestic violence has grown in recent years due to ad campaigns and nonprofit work, Black women still face disproportionate levels of abuse in the home.

Some studies estimate that as many as 20 percent or more of Black women have been victimized by rape, and Black women are murdered more often than any other group of women by race.

There are several reasons for these startling statistics.

Racism and Sexism

Systemic racism is prevalent throughout U.S. institutions. This includes the justice system, where Black people are more likely to be convicted of crimes even though crime rates are similar between ethnic groups.

Similarly, Black women are less likely to receive the help they need from law enforcement when they report domestic violence crimes. The same studies as the ones mentioned above show figures as high as 40 percent of Black women surviving domestic violence in their lifetime—which is much higher than their White counterparts face.

Numerous injuries can occur as a result of violence, and a lot of times the perpetrator isn’t held accountable. In fact, according to Boohoff Law, out of every 1,000 sexual assaults, only 5 lead to criminal convictions.

If we as a society are to live up to the values of protecting the well-being of all people, government and civic organizations must urge more investment into protecting Black women from the scourge of domestic violence.

Socioeconomic Factors

Socioeconomic factors play a multifaceted role in domestic abuse. Black men are unemployed at twice the rate of White men. Being unable to support a family can threaten a man’s sense of “manliness,” and some men overcompensate for feelings of insecurity by attempting to dominate their partners.

Also, for women, getting out of abusive relationships into safety is often much easier said than done. Financial concerns are a major reason that women stay in abusive situations, especially Black women.

Unfortunately, Black women in the U.S. still earn substantially less money than Black men and White women, further limiting their options for seeking safety and help.

According to the National Housing Law Project, housing discrimination is another major hurdle that Black survivors of domestic violence encounter.

How to Help

First of all, resources must be placed into efforts specifically focused on reducing the disproportionate violence against Black women. Harsher punishments are necessary for abusers.

Systemically, economic inequalities must be addressed. This includes the earnings gap that persists between Black and White workers – even among those in similar jobs.

Lastly, law enforcement needs to include training in recognizing racial bias and learning to treat all victims equally.

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Moving forward, society should work to reduce the huge discrepancy in violence levels experienced by White and Black women while at the same time working to stamp out domestic violence for all.

In the meantime, Black women need to take as many steps as they can to protect themselves when they find themselves in an abusive relationship.