Even though Black women experience domestic violence at significantly higher rates than White women, they tend to remain silent out of fear of the police force and a sense of duty to their race and culture. Consequently, their first response is not to report. Instead, they opt to protect the men involved and their community. According to some advocates, Black women feel like they need to be strong. For many Black women, asking for help would be a sign of weakness. Believing in one’s inner strength can be a source of resilience in the face of struggle and hardship, but it can also leave many women feeling like they cannot ask for help when needed.
What Is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence—which consists of physical abuse, emotional intimidation, financial abuse, gaslighting, and more—occurs when an intimate partner attempts to exert power and control in the relationship. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. While domestic violence occurs in all racial and socioeconomic groups, it can cross gender lines as well, with a small percentage of women who abuse men. But most domestic violence cases involve abusive men who seriously injure their victims.
Statistics on Domestic Violence in the Black Community
For Black women, domestic violence risks are incredibly high. Statistics suggest that more than 40% of Black women experience intimate partner violence during their lifetime. Statistics also indicate that:
Black women are three times more likely to be killed by a current or former partner than members of other racial groups.The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence survey found that 41% of Black women experience physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner compared to 31% of White women, 30% of Hispanic women, and 15% of Asian or Pacific Islander women.The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence survey also found that 9% of Black women were raped by their intimate partners, and 17% experienced sexual violence.A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Black and indigenous women are murdered at a higher rate than any other race. Black women are killed at a rate of 4.4 per 100,000 people, and Indigenous women at a rate of 4.3. Other races are killed at about a rate of one or two per 100,000 people
Despite such statistics, violence against Black women often goes unreported. It is also not uncommon for victims of intimate partner violence to later recant their stories. They also are less likely to visit shelters or receive services. Instead, many Black women suffer in silence.
Fatalities
Black women don’t just experience domestic violence at higher rates; they are also more likely to die due to this abuse. Statistics show that Black women are more likely to die due to intimate partner violence. A report by the Violence Policy Center found that in 2020:
90% of Black women are murdered by men that they know56% of women murdered by men that they know were killed by their husband, common-law husband, ex-husband, or boyfriend92% of these murders were not related to another felony, such as rape or robberyAlmost two-thirds of these deaths occurred during an argument between the victim and their killer67% of victims were killed by a gun; 62% of these deaths involved a handgun
Why Black Women Remain Silent
The reasons why women don’t report abuse is varied, but several factors may contribute to why Black women stay silent about the abuse they experience.
Past Injustices
According to the Women’s Community, Inc., Black women are often reluctant to call the police because of past injustices they have witnessed or experienced. This keeps them from pressing charges against their abusers.
Distrust of Law Enforcement
Many advocates for the Black community maintain that because of their contentious history with law enforcement, many Black women are reluctant to call the police even when they should. Unfortunately, many Black women do not believe the police are there to protect them. Meanwhile, others worry about the consequences their partners might suffer at the hands of the police. To them, it is just too big of a risk to take. Black women do not want their families broken apart. Instead, they want their partners to change and to be healed. They do not want them in prison.
Fear of Judgement
There are other reasons that Black women do not call the police. For instance, they are afraid of being judged by their community. They also do not want to look like a traitor to their race. Religious communities can be a source of support. However, these religious beliefs can also keep people trapped in abusive situations if divorce is discouraged and forgiveness is required.
Internalized Stereotypes
Black women may fail to seek help because they believe that asking for assistance may cause them to look weak. Other experts suggest that internalized stereotypes about the appropriate response to violence can also make Black women feel like they have to fight back against an abuser. Unfortunately, fighting back does not always go over well when Black survivors seek assistance from shelters, the police, and the courts. Despite being victims of violence, fighting back in self-defense can lead to professional and personal consequences for Black women. They are punished for not being “good victims.”
Other Factors
Other factors contributing to this silence include fear of isolation and alienation as well as a strong loyalty to both the immediate and extended family. A reluctance to discuss “private matters” coupled with a fear of rejection from family, friends, congregation, and community also contributes to their silence.
What Needs to Change?
According to the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community, women who have practical and emotional support from friends and loved ones have better outcomes. They are less likely to be abused again, experience less distress, and are less likely to attempt suicide.
Assistance From Community and Religious Services
When addressing the unique challenges Black women face when dealing with domestic abuse, most advocates suggest starting with the church. Not only are Black people the highest population of Christians in the United States, but they also are more likely to find comfort and security in the idea that God will take care of them. Consequently, the Black community needs pastors and other men in their churches to stand up against domestic violence. These need to not only communicate that abuse is an unthinkable act but also be willing to come alongside any woman in their community who is experiencing abuse.
Better Training for Law Enforcement
Another area of improvement includes providing additional training of local police forces. They need to understand all of the unique challenges Black women face when reporting domestic abuse. This empathy and understanding would create a sense of security in reporting abuse. And, if Black women feel safe reporting domestic abuse and feel like they and their significant others are going to be treated fairly, they will be more likely to contact the police when violence occurs.
Increased Access to Shelters and Other Services
How Black women are viewed and treated by domestic violence advocates and shelters is another area that needs to be improved. These social service groups must understand the unique challenges that Black women face, including their fear of being judged harshly by their families and their communities when they report the violence.
Support From Loved Ones
Programs should be implemented to help Black women communicate effectively with their families and communities to preserve these relationships while they fight for their safety. Nothing is more detrimental to a victim’s recovery than feeling like they have brought shame to their community. Empowering Black survivors of violence to share their stories and their experiences also will go a long way in encouraging other women to come forward as well. The key is to give Black survivors a voice within the domestic violence community so they can reach out to and work with other Black women dealing with the same issues.
Domestic Violence Education
Educational programs geared specifically toward Black communities can help dispel some myths and concerns Black victims wrestle with when in an abusive situation. The key is that these programs deal with the very real and specific things that keep Black women from opening up to others about what is going on in their personal lives.
A Word From Verywell
It is no secret that Black women experience abuse and violence at exceptionally high rates. But the challenges they face in getting the help they need often leave them feeling alone and isolated. By addressing the unique concerns and challenges that Black women must deal with instead of developing a one-size-fits-all mentality, communities will become more effective in addressing domestic violence in the Black community.
