The Intersections of Race and Gender in Help-Seeking Strategies Among a Battered Sample of Low-Income African American Women

Abstract

National and community studies report greater incidence and prevalence rates of intimate partner violence among Blacks than other racial groups yet many Blacks do not seek help. Using an intersectionality perspective, race, ethnicity, class, and gender are considered as intersecting factors that impact Black women’s help-seeking strategies. Using quantitative and qualitative measures on help-seeking, the researcher conducted face-to-face interviews with a community and shelter sample of 110 Black women, ranging in age 18 to 66. While participants sought help from both formal and informal sources, race appeared as a barrier to formal help-seeking. Resiliency surfaced as another barrier that may work against Black women in their help-seeking strategies. This has significant implications for social workers.

Keywords:

• African Americans
• Blacks
• domestic violence
• help-seeking
• intersectionality
• intimate partner violence