Criminalized Black Women's Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence in Canada

Violence Against Women. 2022 Sep;28(11):2765-2787. doi: 10.1177/10778012211035791. Epub 2021 Sep 21.

Abstract

Canadian research examining the overlap between Black women's victimization and criminalization is sparse. This qualitative study addresses this gap by examining the ways in which criminalized Black women's intersecting identities of race, class, and gender influence how they perceive, experience, and respond to intimate partner violence (IPV). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 Black women who experienced IPV. The findings focus on the women (15) who were also charged with an IPV-related offense. Critical race feminism was employed to analyze their narratives. This research has implications for policy, practice, and future research with Black women who are victimized and criminalized.

Keywords: Black women; criminalization; critical race feminism; domestic violence; intimate partner violence; victimization.

MeSH terms

  • Canada
  • Crime Victims*
  • Female
  • Gender Identity
  • Humans
  • Intimate Partner Violence*
  • Qualitative Research