Women From Different Ethnic Groups and Their Experiences With Victimization and Seeking Help. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Postmus, Judy L.
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 21:Number 3(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 376
• Page End: 393
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: child abuse -- ethnic differences -- intimate partner violence -- seeking help -- sexual assault; Abused women -- Periodicals; Women -- Crimes against -- Periodicals; Violent crimes -- Periodicals; Femmes victimes de violence -- Périodiques; Femmes, Crimes contre les -- Périodiques; Crimes violents -- Périodiques; 362.8292
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801214568254
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

For women who experience abuse in childhood or adulthood, the assumptions are that surviving includes seeking help. This article presents an exploratory study on the prevalence of victimization in the lives of Caucasian, African American, and Latina women, if and to whom they disclosed their victimization, and where they turned for services and support. The results indicate Caucasian women turn more to traditional, therapeutic sources compared with African American women, who tend to use tangible supports. However, when controlling for a number of key variables, the ethnic differences disappear. Implications for further research and practice conclude this article.