A frican A merican Female Victimization

Abstract

Research and national statistics document that African American females are disproportionately included among victims of violence, including the risk of death during unarmed interactions with the police. They are also overrepresented as victims of interpersonal violence, including nonfatal physical assault, sexual assault, and homicide. Most often this victimization takes place at the hands of a spouse, male partner, or intimate acquaintance. The true extent of this victimization is difficult to assess because African American female victims are reluctant to report their victimization to the police and are reluctant to utilize domestic violence services. There is contradictory evidence regarding how their victimization compares to the victimization of women in other racial and ethnic groups. But there is some consistency among research findings that show their rate of victimization exceeds the rates for all women except females who are American Indian. Victims' income and education level and male joblessness appear to be substantial contributors to risk of victimization. Recent statistics confirm low rates of reported victimization, in general, and higher rates of victimization by strangers. These and other factors contribute to an undercounting of African American female victimization.