Lifestyle Risks in Victimization: Comparing Across Two African-American Female Cohorts

• In Event: Gendered Voices and the Intersectionality of Victimization

Abstract

Violent victimization is often linked to lifestyle. This paper examines a hidden population of risk takers: African-American women who use drugs and engage in sex work. Methods were in-depth qualitative interviews. Analysis compared two samples of African American women in studies 19 years apart, and whose participants were different stages of the life course. The first study involved 59 women, average age 33 in 2001. The second study of 35 women (ongoing), were 55 years old at start of interviews in 2020. Thematic analysis compared risk and protective factors and outcomes for violent victimization. Differences emerged in victimization tied to secular factors, including criminal justice and public policy regimes; and time-of-life at interview. The first group experienced high-rates of violence related to street sex work; the second study group reported traumatic and violent childhoods, and greater occurrence of domestic violence. Also, each sample was subject to scrutiny and policy linked to disease epidemics that were race-based. The first group were subject to HIV/AIDS surveillance and programs aimed at minority women drug users who had multiple sex partners. The second group were considered high risk for COVID-19 because of race-related risks of chronic illnesses. Implications will be discussed.

Author

• Regina Elizabeth Brisgone, Norfolk State University