Resilience Strategies of African American Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1093-1124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anneliese A. Singh ◽  
Ashlee Garnett ◽  
Dara Williams
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
African American ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Women Survivors ◽  
American Women

Introduction

2020 ◽  
pp. ix-2
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
African American ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Toni Morrison ◽  
American Women ◽  
Mother Child Relationships ◽  
Historical Issues

In her eleventh novel, God Help the Child, Toni Morrison returns to several of the signature themes explored in her previous work: pernicious beauty standards for women, particularly African American women; mother-child relationships; racism and colorism; and child sexual abuse. As with Morrison’s other work, the story takes on mythic qualities, and the larger-than-life themes lend themselves to allegorical and symbolic readings that resonate in light of both contemporary and historical issues.

Living on the Outside: African American Women Before, During, and After Imprisonment

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZELMA WESTON HENRIQUES ◽  
NORMA MANATU-RUPERT
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Intimate Relationships ◽  
American Women ◽  
Cultural Phenomenon ◽  
Multiple Issues ◽  
Traditional Roles

This article examines the multiple issues that contribute to the incarceration of African American women and threaten to render these women recidivists. These issues include but are not limited to substance abuse, sexual abuse, fractured familial relations, and abusive intimate relationships. In an attempt to examine these issues, the article explores how, prior to their imprisonment, social factors contravene African American women's attempts at enforcing their traditional roles as “women.” The article attempts to show that the increased incarceration of African American women is part of a cultural phenomenon that reflects their social exclusion in U.S. society.

Intimate Partner Sexual Coercion Mediates the Childhood Sexual Abuse–Suicidal Ideation Link Among African American Women

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorian A. Lamis ◽  
Courtenay E. Cavanaugh ◽  
Maria H. Anastasiades ◽  
Amanda Garcia-Williams ◽  
Claudine Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
African American ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Sexual Coercion ◽  
Suicide Ideation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
American Women

Suicide is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women. Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and intimate partner violence are significant risk factors for suicidal ideation among women. The purpose of this study was to examine the interrelationships among these three constructs and test if intimate partner sexual coercion may explain the CSA–suicidal ideation link. African American women ( N = 141) completed an assessment of childhood trauma, intimate partner sexual coercion, and suicide ideation. A significant positive correlation was found between CSA and sexual coercion, between CSA and suicidal ideation, and between sexual coercion and suicidal ideation. Also, intimate partner sexual coercion was found to mediate the relationship between CSA and suicidal ideation when controlling for covariates such as spiritual well-being, self-esteem, and barriers to services. The association between CSA and suicidal ideation may be explained by sexual revictimization in the context of an intimate relationship among African American women. Clinically, practitioners should engage in regular screening for suicide ideation among African American women who have experienced CSA and intimate partner sexual coercion.

And Still I Rise: Resilience Factors Contributing to Posttraumatic Growth in African American Women

2020 ◽  
pp. 009579842097980
Author(s):  
Dawnsha R. Mushonga ◽  
Shvilla Rasheem ◽  
Darlene Anderson
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Women Survivors ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
American Women ◽  
Resilience Factors ◽  
The Impact

Understanding the impact of trauma and resilience has long been of interest to mental health professionals everywhere. However, what is missing in the literature is the unique standpoint of African American women who are often trapped in a traumatic cycle of poverty and intimate partner violence (IPV). Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the lived experiences of African American women surviving IPV and examine resilience factors that may contribute to the development of posttraumatic growth (PTG). Semistructured interviews were conducted with eight African American women survivors of IPV. Thematic analysis revealed six themes that were relative to the development of PTG: spirituality, motherhood, gratitude, prudence, solitude, and selective attention. The emergent themes in this study present the counter narrative of African American women who see both adaptive and maladaptive mechanisms as viable contributors of PTG. This study informs practitioners about various strategies used by economically disadvantaged African American women survivors that may contribute to PTG following traumatic experiences, such as IPV.

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