Exploring the Link Between Stereotypic Images and Intimate Partner Violence in the African American Community

• NCJ Number: 193640
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2002 Pages: 64-86
• Author(s): Tameka L. Gillum
• Date Published: January 2002
• Length: 23 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study addressed the negative stereotypes of African American women that African American men hold and its relation to violence against African American women.

Abstract

The hypotheses were: (1) Some African American men believe African American women are jezebels (promiscuous) and/or matriarchs (overly aggressive), and (2) a belief in these stereotypic images by African American men will be related to condoning violence against African American women. Participants were recruited by one of two African American men who were trained to be recruiters for this study. Potential participants were asked to complete a survey about relationships as part of a Michigan State University graduate student’s study. A total of 255 African American men were recruited for participation in this study. Two measures were developed specifically for this study: the Perceptions of African American Women Scale and the Justification of Violence Scale. Results indicated that there was a significant number of African American men who endorsed one or both of two stereotypes about African American women. One of the more positive study findings was that despite the fact that a large number of African American men endorsed one or both of the stereotypic images, 94 percent of the sample endorsed positive characteristics of African American women. This study found not only that a large percentage of African American men held negative stereotypes of African American women but also that belief in a stereotype was positively related to justifying domestic violence. Holding these stereotypes appeared to be a contributing factor to intimate partner violence against African American women. A belief in the jezebel stereotype was more strongly related to justifying domestic violence than was the matriarch stereotype. This data should be used in conjunction with other research that explores the dynamics of intimate partner violence in the African American community. 8 tables, 40 references