Black and Latina women are disproportionately affected by both HIV and intimate partner violence (IPV). For these women, the complex relationship between HIV and IPV is experienced within a context shaped by gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and other cultural factors. Hence, a culturally responsive approach that considers the power dynamics of relationships, stigma, and chronic disconnection, and that centers the intersecting identities of clients, is essential to effectively serving this clientele. Relational-cultural theory provides a culturally informed framework that empowers Black and Latina women affected by HIV and IPV. Application of this theoretical framework will be discussed and illustrated via two case vignettes.

“The Politics of BDSM: Racial Dynamics and Critical Consent” examines how historically marginalized groups with limited social power (e.g., racial and sexual minorities) communicate their needs and boundaries within the power-laden practice of BDSM. In this study, 13 Black BDSM practitioners were interviewed to examine how racial identity plays a role in BDSM practice. Racial identity is a non-negotiable marker that has created a structural dynamic in power relationships since the time of chattel slavery in the Americas, and racial dynamics continue to influence status and personal agency in the modern era. It is argued that the disavowal of systemic objectification and racial domination impedes consent and agency in BDSM settings. The findings of this study include the narratives of Black practitioners who provide insight into how role enactment, fetishism, and negotiation must be approached from a culturally responsive lens to enhance safety in BDSM.