Relational Aggression Narratives of African American and Latina Young Women

Abstract

This article presents findings from a narrative study conducted to address young women’s experiences of relational aggression and violence in their female peer relationships. Few studies have examined the nature of relational aggression among urban African American and Latina young women. Moreover, when young urban women have been studied, prior research has predominantly focused on physical aggression, often excluding nonphysical forms of aggression that may precipitate violence. Using the listening guide method, this narrative analysis of 19 young African American and Latina women (18–21 years) living in New York City will demonstrate young urban women’s experiences of relational aggression and violence, and the social and emotional impact of these experiences in their everyday lives. Findings reveal that young women use different forms of relational aggression, and these forms of relational aggression provoke violence between female peers. Listening to young women’s voices as they talk about their experiences of relational aggression in their female peer relationships provides rich contextual information about the underlying social and cultural meanings of the various forms of aggressive behaviors for young women living and surviving in urban communities. Implications for clinical social work practice and policy are discussed.