Understanding Marital Violence in the Black Community

Abstract

The limitations of theory and the dearth of well-controlled, empirical research on the relationship of race and race-by-class differences to the incidence of marital violence has resulted in an insufficient data base with which to construct useful and valid conclusions regarding the Black community. Consequently, the effects of social class, violence in the family of origin, and sources of conflict were examined in a comparative study of marital violence experienced by 155 Black women across three social class positions who lived in a southeastern metropolitan city. In contrast to previous characterizations of marital violence among Black couples, the results of this study revealed some significant differences between the proportion of Black women and men by social class who were victims of marital violence. The data did suggest that when social class positions were controlled, Black middle-class women experienced more violence than their lower- and upper-class counterparts. This investigation highlights implications for theory development and future research.