The Intersection of Racial Injustice and IPV

Racial injustice and IPV combines to increase suffering.

• The mere perception by an abuser of being slighted results in more violence at home. Any abuser feeling threatened or mistreated tends to vent it at their partner.     
• Victims may not call the police because they are afraid of what will happen. There have been IPV incidents in this country that resulted in the abusers being unnecessarily hurt or killed. Some abusers use discrimination by the system as an excuse so they won’t be held accountable by partners.
• Victims may be reluctant to talk with others about abuse because they’re afraid it results in increasing the racial stereotyping of violence.

As a citizen, I have witnessed with horror the murder and brutality committed in the name of “law and order.” I view it as in the name of dominance, which I’ve written about in other blog posts. A dominator mentality lies in sharp contrast to a partnership worldview as well as to our American values and principles. The dominator mindset is visible in the “American nightmare” of blacks, to use Ibram X. Kendi’s term in talking about his book How to Be an Antiracist.

There was no reason for using force at all against George Floyd other than to demonstrate the officer’s dominance and entitlement to do whatever he wanted.

I pray that this is the moment American society comes to grips with myths and lies about blacks that encourage implicit bias. A prominent example is that blacks are more violent and therefore, we expect violence and act to preempt it. In truth, blacks are no more likely to be violent than whites. Poverty and stress increase the incidence in both white and non-white populations.  

All forms of injustice result from believing in the right to dominate. IPV perpectrators feel entitled to abuse their victims. Systems that protect some from the consequences of their behavior are unjust, whether we’re talking about the police or abusers.   

I’ve read articles about mayors and police chiefs who have tried to reform the system and been frustrated. I also know of community members who work for justice in the family court and legal system for IPV survivors. Yet changing any of these systems continues as an uphill battle.

We can all do our part by supporting protests of these injustices. That can take the shape of a march, but longer term work happens by joining organizations that work against intimate partner and racial injustice.