An Argument for Black Feminist Criminology: Understanding African American Women's Experiences with Intimate Partner Abuse Using an Integrated Approach

Victims' perceptions of police response to domestic violence incidents

“…African American victims have been found to be no less likely than Caucasian victims to call for assistance and to support arrest, but are significantly less likely to support prosecution (Kingsnorth & MacIntosh, 2004). The unique and historical position of African American women in the United States impacts how women of color experience domestic violence, as well as perceive legal intervention on their behalf (Potter, 2006). Some women of color resist mandatory arrest policies because of their perception that such arrests would lead to an expansion of state control of minority males and poor people (Richie, 1996;Richie & Kanuha, 1993).…”

Using an African American Lens to Explore the Intersection of Race, Gender, and Intimate Partner Violence

“…Crenshaw, 1991;MacDowell, 2013;Morrison, 2006;Potter, 2006;Sokoloff & Dupont, 2005). This omission is troubling because in other contexts CRT has helped explain differential experiences of women of color relative to white women.…”

This is a man’s world ... or least that’s how it looks in the journals

“…However, many of these employed what Flavin (2001) refers to as the most advanced approach to understanding female offenders by using theory to examine how a variety of factors interact with gender to affect criminality (Burgess-Proctor 2006;Potter, 2006;Wonders 1991). Arguably, in three decades of effort feminist criminologists have expanded both by pointing out the limitations of theories of menÕs criminality and by advancing theories of their own (Flavin 2001).…”

“…Indeed, a feminist approach can add to our understanding of not only female crime but also male crime. Furthermore, it can sensitize us to how multiple social placements impact the pathways to crime and victimization as well as responses to crime (Burgess-Proctor 2006;Potter, 2006;Wonders 1991). Chesney- Lind and Pasko (2004) argue that feminist criminology has ''profound implications for mainstream criminology'' (p. vii).…”