Today is the 2nd day of DVAM 2024 - Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2024. In this month, I want to start you off with providing visibility once again to the most common forms of DV Black women face. It's not what you think.
Domestic violence (DV) against Black women is a multifaceted issue that often goes unseen, misunderstood, or minimized. At Courageous Fire, LLC, we empower Black women to reclaim their lives from cycles of abuse, helping them recognize the signs of abuse and get help sooner or avoid abusive partners and patterns altogether. We also teach organizations Black women will encounter how to spot those patterns as well to direct these women to culturally-responsive help. A critical component for the victim-survivor and the communities who will support them is understanding the different types of domestic violence that Black women are disproportionately subjected to.
While DV manifests in many ways, here are three of the most common forms experienced by Black women: Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Sexual Abuse/Coercion, and Stalking. These types are deeply rooted in power and control dynamics, often hidden beneath cultural, systemic, and interpersonal layers.
1. Emotional/Psychological Abuse
Emotional and psychological abuse often centers around coercive control—a pattern of behavior designed to dominate a person’s sense of self and autonomy. For Black women, this form of abuse is compounded by racial stereotypes and societal pressures that paint them as "strong" or "unbreakable," often making it harder for them to be seen as victims.
Coercive control can take many forms, including:
Verbal abuse: Constant insults, degradation, and put-downs designed to destroy self-esteem.
Spiritual abuse: Manipulating or exploiting a person’s religious or spiritual beliefs to control them. For example, an abuser may twist religious doctrines to justify their abusive behavior or prevent their partner from practicing their faith.
Psychological manipulation isolates Black women from their support networks, making them feel trapped in abusive relationships. The emotional toll is often enormous, eroding mental health and self-worth.
2. Sexual Abuse/Coercion/Reproductive Coercion
Sexual violence against Black women is rooted in a long history of exploitation - learn about Jezebel's history and impact on Black women - but today it often takes subtler, yet equally damaging forms.
Sexual abuse involves any unwanted sexual contact or behavior. Many Black women face not only physical sexual assault but also sexual coercion, where they are pressured or forced into sexual activity without physical force.
Another growing concern is reproductive coercion, which includes:
Sabotaging birth control or pressuring someone to become pregnant or terminate a pregnancy.
Controlling reproductive choices as a way to maintain dominance, trapping victims in relationships through forced parenthood or limiting their ability to have children.
For Black women, reproductive coercion can be especially dangerous given the maternal health disparities they already face, including higher rates of pregnancy-related complications and mortality.
3. Stalking (Physical and Digital)
Stalking is an often-overlooked form of abuse that affects Black women disproportionately. Whether physical or digital, stalking can severely impact a survivor’s sense of safety and autonomy.
Physical stalking includes unwanted following, showing up at the victim’s home, workplace, or places they frequent.
Digital stalking, a growing form of harassment, includes cyberstalking through social media, email, or text messages. Abusers may monitor their victim’s online activities, invade their privacy, and harass them digitally.
Many Black women are stalked not only by current or former partners but also by individuals who exploit digital tools to maintain control. Stalking often escalates into physical violence, which makes it a critical issue to address in discussions of domestic violence.
The Unique Impact on Black Women
For Black women, these types of abuse are often exacerbated by cultural, social, and institutional factors. Racial discrimination and stereotypes play a significant role in how their abuse is perceived or ignored by the community, law enforcement, and even support services. Many Black women feel pressure to remain silent or self-sacrificing in their relationships to avoid reinforcing negative stereotypes about Black families or to preserve a sense of loyalty.
The intersection of racism and sexism leaves Black women especially vulnerable to abuse. They are more likely to be dismissed or disbelieved when they seek help and often have fewer resources available due to socioeconomic disparities.
At Courageous Fire, LLC, we recognize these barriers and work to provide culturally competent, trauma-informed support for Black women survivors. We focus on addressing the emotional, sexual, and psychological dimensions of abuse while empowering survivors to reclaim control over their lives.
How We Can Help
We provide a range of educational support to help Centers of Must and Centers of Trust as well as the Black women themselves navigate effective victim services work or moving through their healing journey, including:
Specialized consulting and coaching to create safe spaces for Black women navigating domestic violence and other crises, improving their health outcomes.
Connection to our sister nonprofit organization, Courageous Access, which provides:
Healthy relationship skills, emotional resilience, and coping strategies
Safe spaces for Black women to share their stories and experiences, free from judgment or shame
Tools for emotional and psychological healing, including therapeutic approaches like journaling, art, and theater. Just like the one curated for Black women to enjoy at the end of this month! Please share this link with the Black women you know to enjoy: event link
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, it’s important to understand that help is available. Start here on our website at Courageous Fire, LLC.
Call to Action:If this resonates with you or someone you know, or the work you do, don’t wait. Contact us today to learn more about our programs and resources for Black women survivors and other Black women who are caught in the web of trauma. If you're able, please donate here. Together, we can #changethenarrative.
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