The Women’s Insights Project was a study that is designed to explore the experiences of African-American women who have survived IPV. Specifically, the purpose is to gain an understanding of the perceived costs and benefits that African American women experiencing intimate partner violence face when they consider seeking help from family, friends, and social institutions.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant threat to the health and wellbeing of American women. Each year, thousands of women are physically, emotionally, sexually, and verbally abused by their husbands, boyfriends, ex-husbands, and ex-boyfriends. IPV is a pervasive problem that transcends culture, ethnicity, and economic status. While IPV is a common problem in the United States, there is some evidence that African-American women may be at increased risk for experiencing this type of violence. For example, it is estimated that African-American women experience IPV at a rate that is 35% higher than that of White women. In addition, a leading cause of death among African-American women ages 15-45 is homicide at the hands of a male intimate partner. The Women’s Insights Project is a study that is designed to explore the experiences of African-American women who have survived IPV. Specifically, the purpose is to gain an understanding of the perceived costs and benefits that African American women experiencing intimate partner violence face when they consider seeking help from family, friends, and social institutions. The information gleaned from this research is being used to help develop the content for culturally sensitive curriculum that designed to enhance awareness about violence against women in the African-American community. The maxim that provides the foundation for this work is that victims of IPV are offered an opportunity to share their testimonies of struggle and survival.
