Article Title

Towards a Social Justice Agenda: Intimate Partner Violence among Rural, African American Women

Authors

Shani Collins Woods, Austin Peay State UniversityFollow

Abstract

The social work profession is rooted in community-based work that seeks to eradicate social injustice everywhere. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global phenomenon which impacts women from diverse socio-economic and racial/ethnic backgrounds. It involves power and control, economic abuse, and physical and sexual violence. When compared to other racial and ethnic groups, African American women are likelier to experience physical violence, rape, and homicide. Intimate partner violence among African American women is a social justice issue.

When compared to other racial and ethnic groups, rural and/or low-income African American women are likelier to experience IPV. They are also likelier to experience psychosocial challenges and negative physical health outcomes due to the lack of availability, accessibility, and quality of IPV services. Individual, relationship, and community factors such as aggression, economic stress, and societal norms that uphold patriarchy contribute to IPV among rural, African American women. Social work practitioners, educators, practitioners, and researchers are uniquely qualified to use multi-level interventions to address the causes of IPV among rural, African American women. This work presents multi-level solutions to dismantle oppression and violence against rural, African American women. Such solutions would help improve economic, social, mental and physical health outcomes for rural and underserved communities largely impacted by IPV.

Recommended Citation

Collins Woods, Shani (2020) "Towards a Social Justice Agenda: Intimate Partner Violence among Rural, African American Women," Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal: Vol. 12: No. 1, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61611/2165-4611.1198
Available at: https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/crsw/vol12/iss1/6