Battle cries: black women and intimate partner abuse

2009 ◽  
Vol 47 (03) ◽  
pp. 47-1735-47-1735
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Yardley

This chapter analyses the murder of Jennifer Alfonso by her husband Derek Medina in Florida on August 8, 2013. Jennifer's murder was what criminologists call an intimate partner homicide (IPH). International media reports of the case followed a well-established pattern that devalued IPH, treating the homicide as a one-off event where an otherwise ‘normal’ perpetrator ‘snaps’ and loses control in a moment of madness. The fact that Derek had posted on Facebook was at the very the centre of the story, if not the story itself. The chapter first describes the background of Derek and Jennifer's relationship, Derek's media practices, and his attempt at identity management after his arrest before examining his Facebook homicide confession. It also contextualises the murder in relation to the relevant literature on intimate partner abuse and IPH.


2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 536-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa St. Pierre ◽  
Charlene Y. Senn

While understanding of intimate partner abuse (IPA) in gay and lesbian relationships has increased within the past decade, there remain several gaps in the help-seeking research. In particular, research examining the external barriers to help-seeking encountered by gay and lesbian victims of IPA has been largely atheoretical. To address this gap, an application of The Barriers Model was undertaken. This mixed-methods study surveyed 280 gay, lesbian, and/or queer participants living in Canada. Findings revealed that victims encountered external barriers in the environment (i.e., Layer 1 of the model), such as lack of availability of gay and lesbian specific services. Results also suggested that barriers due to family/socialization/role expectations (i.e., Layer 2 of the model), such as concealment of sexual orientation, had an impact on help-seeking.


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