A study led by Angie Kennedy, an associate professor of social work at Michigan State University, finds that young Black women who were exposed to abuse in their family life are more likely to be victims of dating violence that other young Black women. The results of a study of young Black women in Chicago, found that 85 percent had witnessed domestic violence and 72 percent said they were victims of abuse. Nearly 30 percent of the young Black women said that they were sexually abused.
Those women who were exposed to violence in their home were more likely than their peers who were not exposed to violence to also experience dating violence. According to the study, young Black women exposed to violence in their family life may come to believe that violence is a normal part of life.
The study was published in the journal Violence Against Women. The article can be accessed here.
