A Two-Article Exploration of Adopting a Culturally Responsive Approach for Addressing Sexual Violence in Black Women

Nearly 40% of Black women will experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. While there are resources that aim to support sexual assault survivors, they often reinforce the same racial discrimination and sexist deprecation that present barriers to disclosure and help-seeking behaviors. For Black women who do seek support, there exists a dearth of resources that effectively address the impact of historical trauma and integrate the dual experiences of race and gender within treatment modalities. For this dissertation project, the researcher developed two qualitative research papers. The overarching goal of the proposed research was to explore three broad questions: 1) In what ways is sexual violence addressed in Black women survivors? 2) What do Black women find most beneficial in developing positive coping skills in the aftermath of sexual violence? and 3) How do Black women make meaning out of their lived experience in the aftermath of sexual violence? The first article explores the different access and methods that Black women utilize to explore to address sexual violence in their lives. The study is informed by a theoretical framework that integrates the following theories: Historical Trauma Theory, Stress Response Theory, and Cultural Betrayal Trauma Theory. The integration of this theoretical framework informs the importance of blending prior traumatic history with stress and cultural integration to understand the holistic processing necessary to support Black women who are survivors of sexual violence. This article demonstrates the unique way in which agencies, clinicians and future policy can best shape culturally responsive support for Black women specifically to have the best resources necessary to help them address the negative symptoms that arise as a result of sexual violence. In the second article, the research explores the meaning making process that Black women seek to undertake as they attempt to understand their lives as survivors of sexual violence. The article integrates narrative theory, intersectional theory, and cultural trauma betrayal theory to explore the utility of qualitative methodology in both sharing the stories and allowing them to be used as tools for navigating the difficulty of sexual violence. All participants were recruited from LinkedIn and private mental health practices in a large midwestern city. Data collection was offered virtually at the discretion of the participants to ensure safety, given the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was analyzed utilizing a thematic content analysis (Braun & Clark, 2006) and an interpretative phenomenological approach (Langdrige, 2004) with 39 Black women. Results indicate that the sharing information with family members and friends as well as including more mind/body-based strategies were beneficial in supporting survivors. The study also supported sense of self, meaning making and healing and recovery as primary categories necessary in understanding oneself in the aftermath of sexual violence. Findings from this study have implications for best practices in culturally responsive therapeutic service delivery, agency practices and policy changes for Black women impacted by sexual violence.