social and economic status of blacks and other minorities and whites in the United States, the problems associated with the correlation between family violence and economic and social difficulties are often aggravated for minority women.
In her book Chain, Chain, Change: For Black Women in Abusive Relationships, Evelyn White argues the experience of family violence differs for black women (Berry, 1995, p. 52). She argues one reason for the difference is black men often experience a sense of powerlessness in American society, which contributes to their abuse of power in the family (Berry, 1995, p. 53). Jo-Ellen Asbury cites to a study that suggests economic difficulty is the factor that most often triggers violent episodes (Asbury, 1987, p. 96). She agrees with White and Berry that focusing on the African-American experience suggests this factor may be even more problematic for African-American families because racial discrimination has prevented African-American males, in many cases, from fulfilling the traditional male role of head of household and provider (Asbury, 1987, p. 96).
White also argues women in the African-American culture are alternately but simultaneously viewed as subhuman and super
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