Africans in the diaspora have made significant contributions across various fields, yet intimate partner violence (IPV) remains an enduring challenge within their communities. IPV among Africans in the diaspora is shaped by a confluence of cultural norms, acculturative stress, and systemic barriers, which contribute to underreporting and limited access to support services. Victims often navigate complex social expectations, fear of stigma, and marginalization, while perpetrators may justify their actions through cultural beliefs or experiences of disempowerment. This chapter suggests the adoption of culturally competent empowerment programs and holistic healing approaches, including trauma-informed care, community support, and faith-based interventions, which are essential to mitigating IPV. A gender-inclusive approach is also needed, as male victimization remains underreported. Additionally, existing legal frameworks in host countries, while robust and useful in assisting victims, face challenges in accessibility and effectiveness due to sociocultural and immigration-related fears. Research gaps also persist regarding the prevalence, sociodemographic characteristics, and psychosocial dynamics of IPV within African diasporic communities. Addressing IPV in the African diaspora, therefore, requires a multi-layered strategy that combines legal, social, and cultural interventions to foster resilience, ensure justice, and support survivors.

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Breaking the Silence: Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in the African Diasporic Communities

  • Abiodun Raufu

摘要

Africans in the diaspora have made significant contributions across various fields, yet intimate partner violence (IPV) remains an enduring challenge within their communities. IPV among Africans in the diaspora is shaped by a confluence of cultural norms, acculturative stress, and systemic barriers, which contribute to underreporting and limited access to support services. Victims often navigate complex social expectations, fear of stigma, and marginalization, while perpetrators may justify their actions through cultural beliefs or experiences of disempowerment. This chapter suggests the adoption of culturally competent empowerment programs and holistic healing approaches, including trauma-informed care, community support, and faith-based interventions, which are essential to mitigating IPV. A gender-inclusive approach is also needed, as male victimization remains underreported. Additionally, existing legal frameworks in host countries, while robust and useful in assisting victims, face challenges in accessibility and effectiveness due to sociocultural and immigration-related fears. Research gaps also persist regarding the prevalence, sociodemographic characteristics, and psychosocial dynamics of IPV within African diasporic communities. Addressing IPV in the African diaspora, therefore, requires a multi-layered strategy that combines legal, social, and cultural interventions to foster resilience, ensure justice, and support survivors.