Considerations in Working with Considerations in Working with DiversityDiversity

Lessons Learned: Lessons Learned:

Issues and Considerations in Issues and Considerations in Responding to domestic Responding to domestic violence amongviolence among men of color men of color

Presented By

Dr. Oliver J. Williams

For Respect’s

RoundtableJune 23, 2008

London, England

Status of Diversity related to Status of Diversity related to Intimate Partner ViolenceIntimate Partner Violence

Developmental stages of the field of Developmental stages of the field of Intimate partner violenceIntimate partner violence

Grass Roots Movement All in the same boat Grass Roots Movement All in the same boat Pre 1974 womenPre 1974 women 1974 to present-battered 1974 to present-battered 1994 VAWA 1994 VAWA

helping women (safe houses) Women’s Shelterhelping women (safe houses) Women’s Shelter Expanding the Expanding the ways ways we do our workwe do our work

In the mid 80’s questions about inclusiveness,

diversity and disparities begin to surface

More Scholarship and organizationsBegan around diversity issues, Disparities in IPV became more visible

Today the extent that we understand, trust, articulate and integrate this knowledge into the field is variable

BIP’s 1977-78

Status of Diversity related to Status of Diversity related to Intimate Partner ViolenceIntimate Partner Violence

Developmental stages of the field of Developmental stages of the field of Intimate partner violenceIntimate partner violence

Expanding the ways we do our workExpanding the ways we do our work

Today the extent that we understand, trust, articulate and integrate this knowledge into the

field is variable, although more scholarship is availableon diversity issues.

There is a difference between consciousness raising and acceptance or believing and doing. The field must be more action oriented.

Work with diversity must be more effectivelyand consistently communicated with in the field of IPV

Among traditional theories Among traditional theories about working with men who about working with men who

batterbatter*Social Learning theory

*Feminist Theory—which offers a critique of male disenfranchisement, subordination and other behavior toward women including violence (Sexism)

*Social Exchange/ Resource depletion

*Chronic stress reaction

*Power and control

Among traditional theories about Among traditional theories about working with men who batterworking with men who batter

•Male socialization

• Low frustration tolerance

• Poor conflict resolution skills

•Legal Sanctions, police and court intervention are imperative to end male violence to women, get him into treatment and hold him accountable for his actions

What other issues might we What other issues might we include?include?

What is the brand of Sexism used—the manifestation of What is the brand of Sexism used—the manifestation of subordination of women and the rationales that support subordination of women and the rationales that support it from culture to cultureit from culture to culture

Cultural rules and roles from non-Western perspectives?Cultural rules and roles from non-Western perspectives? The utilization and interpretations of faith perspective The utilization and interpretations of faith perspective

that justifies control and abuse of womenthat justifies control and abuse of women Definition of manhood and relationships between men Definition of manhood and relationships between men

and women and women Immigration and changing roles and rulesImmigration and changing roles and rules Displaced Anger?Displaced Anger? Other issue? Other issue?

Theories which explain violenceTheories which explain violence among some African American among some African American

malesmales Structural Theory :Structural Theory : Social and racial oppression which Social and racial oppression which

result in high risk social context. result in high risk social context. The violence that results is The violence that results is predictablepredictable

But producesBut produces Interactional theory:Interactional theory: Environmental imperatives and Environmental imperatives and

codes of conduct which shape codes of conduct which shape behavior, attitudes and behavior, attitudes and interactions among men and other interactions among men and other interpersonal relationshipsinterpersonal relationships

Hi Ed.&

SES

Mid Ed.&

SES

Low Ed. &

SES

Stressful social context

&environmental codes

of conduct

Maladaptive Responses

Traditional explanations

about why men batter

Intimate Relationships

Self Community

Elder abuse, Partner abuse, child abuse,Acquaintance violence, homicide,internalized racism

Suicide, Drug abuse, Mental Illnessinternalized racism

Community violence, gangs ,crime, victimization of others, internalized racism

Williams & Griffin, 1990

Stressful social context

&environmental codes

of conduct

Maladaptive Responses

Traditional explanations

about why men batter

Intimate Relationships

Self Community

Elder abuse, Partner abuse, child abuse,Acquaintance violence, homicide,internalized racism

Suicide, Drug abuse, Mental Illnessinternalized racism

Community violence, gangs ,crime, victimization of others, internalized racism

Williams & Griffin, 1990

and substance use

Unless you addressthe content/issuesthey will trade onenegative behavior for another

Blended perspectives combine theBlended perspectives combine the conventional conventional perspectives of DV with the cultural perspectives of DV with the cultural

perspectives of the client population.perspectives of the client population.

Causes for abuse: sexismmale socialization, power,control, etc.

Interventions: court sanction, individual or group counseling focused on batterer responsibility;

a pro-feminist perspective, etc.

Causes for abuse: violent community living environment, displaced anger, societal context; oppression; cultural values confusion,poor problem solving skills

Intervention:Familiarity with client population’sworldview, understanding client social context,understanding when to confront and when to acknowledge, healing, personal responsibility, building capacity/skills, non-violent conflict resolution skills and the ability to accurately self-assess

Williams, 1998

Confront attitudes & behavior, teach alternatives to Confront attitudes & behavior, teach alternatives to violence. Increase capacity to negotiate social contextviolence. Increase capacity to negotiate social context

Social context Interactional context

To alter behavior toward partner: Sanctions and

Healing

Negotiate social context

Make the link between experiences and behavior

I.D. Strengths, confront negatives,

Court-mandates community sanctions and supports

Provide info. on resources

Williams, 1999

In considering methods to engage men and address their In considering methods to engage men and address their reality, it is important that practitioners and group members reality, it is important that practitioners and group members

not collude! Practitioner must always question but also not collude! Practitioner must always question but also acknowledge and/or confront the mans reality.acknowledge and/or confront the mans reality.

Balance

Acknowledge

+Confront

Collude

_

_

Williams, 1999

Levels of focus on diversity by BIPLevels of focus on diversity by BIP

Colorblind

Healthy Heterogeneous

Culturally specific Milieu

Culturally focused

Culturally Centered

Differences don’t make a difference

Inclusiveness of diversity is imperative:Programming efforts

Critical mass from one cultural group with no plan to address diversity. But, diversity is implicit in themes of the groups

Examine historical and contemporary realityalong with definitions of cultural identity, social

realities, responses and behavior choices

Culture and values are at the center of treatment. Attention given to ritual

(most BIP’s(most BIP’sWilliams and Williams and Becker, 95)Becker, 95)

Williams,1999

What types of organizations that have the most success with diverse populations?

Cultural programs efforts are those activities that not only demonstrate organizational preparedness to work with culturally different clients but also demonstrate a willingness to work with them. Cultural program efforts can be used to delineate generic one size fits all programs from culturally competent agencies. Culturally competent organizations are involved in a set of service activities that are responsive to the needs of the client pool. Some examples include outreach activities which 1) shape a communities perception of such a helping system, 2) demonstrating an investment in the community, 3) encouraging the community to seek help through programs; and 4) offering interventions and approaches that are culturally congruent with the needs and realities of the diverse population(s) they serve.

Developing an expanded Developing an expanded strategy to address domestic strategy to address domestic violence among men of colorviolence among men of color

Internal desire and capacity to do this Internal desire and capacity to do this workwork

Treatment approaches that are Treatment approaches that are congruent with the population you work congruent with the population you work

Both a treatment model, public Both a treatment model, public education approach and community education approach and community collaboration approach—between collaboration approach—between mainstream programs, culturally mainstream programs, culturally specific programs and diverse specific programs and diverse communitiescommunities

Primary Prevention:All African American men

Secondary Prevention:Those African American men At high risk of becoming abusive

Tertiary Prevention:Those African American menthat with a history of abusivebehavior

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Tertiary Preventions

Primary Prevention:All African American men

Secondary Prevention:Those African American men At high risk of becoming abusive

Tertiary Prevention:Those African American menwith a history of abusivebehavior

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Tertiary Preventions

Additional themes to addressIn each category of meninclude:1. Definitions of respect2. Identity of self3. Acknowledging & addressing their brand of sexism, beliefs about the purpose of women & behaviors& attitudes toward women4. Fatherhood & DV5. Street codes about

resolving conflict6. Co-parenting & DV7. Alternatives to violence--given social context & situation--man to man, family, community8. Problem solving skills9. Connections with parts of the community that supports Non-violence and adaptive behaviors

Reconcile culturally diverse Reconcile culturally diverse community issues and community issues and

perceptionsperceptions Is law enforcement, domestic violence service programs and Is law enforcement, domestic violence service programs and

interventions seen as a resource or intrusion by the diverse interventions seen as a resource or intrusion by the diverse communities?communities?

Are you effective in engaging diverse communities and/or men Are you effective in engaging diverse communities and/or men in the Batterer Intervention Programs?in the Batterer Intervention Programs?

If not why not?If not why not? What do battered women understand about what you are What do battered women understand about what you are

doing and why you are doing it—do they trust you?doing and why you are doing it—do they trust you? What do diverse communities understand about DV and their What do diverse communities understand about DV and their

relationship to it?relationship to it? Are they apart of the message? Are they apart of the message? Are they the messenger too?Are they the messenger too? Are diverse communities included as part of the solution? Are diverse communities included as part of the solution?

Barriers and Challenges in Barriers and Challenges in addressing diversity in BIP addressing diversity in BIP

programsprograms Limited endorsement in the fieldLimited endorsement in the field Pre-disposition to a one-size fits all model and to Pre-disposition to a one-size fits all model and to

deny differencesdeny differences Lack of understanding about what it means to be Lack of understanding about what it means to be

culturally competent culturally competent Lack of supportive practitioners environments Lack of supportive practitioners environments

and communityand community Lack of supportive organizational environmentsLack of supportive organizational environments Lack of knowledgeable & supportive researcher Lack of knowledgeable & supportive researcher

environments & communitiesenvironments & communities Tendency for research to be a snap shot rather Tendency for research to be a snap shot rather

than investing in approaches and exploration of than investing in approaches and exploration of what works for communities of colorwhat works for communities of color

Barriers and Challenges in Barriers and Challenges in addressing diversity in BIP addressing diversity in BIP

programsprograms Need to evaluate study design, models and Need to evaluate study design, models and

research team/partnerships related to diversity—research team/partnerships related to diversity—what makes good partnerships and researchwhat makes good partnerships and research

Tendency to study program failure rather than Tendency to study program failure rather than program successprogram success

Tendency to study clients failure rather than Tendency to study clients failure rather than client successclient success

Lack of community investment or collaboration Lack of community investment or collaboration Lack of community partnershipsLack of community partnerships Concepts of accountability and restoration are in Concepts of accountability and restoration are in

conflictconflict

Studies of BIP and Diversity Studies of BIP and Diversity

Williams, 1994Williams, 1994 Williams, 1995Williams, 1995 Sharma, 1999Sharma, 1999 Gondolf, 2006Gondolf, 2006 Lyon, 2006Lyon, 2006