Self-Defense and Police Reporting of Intimate Partner Violent Victimization: A Comparison of White, Black, and Hispanic Women Victims.

This article examines racial and ethnic differences in the use of physical self-defense during incidents of intimate partner violence (IPV) and its association with reporting victimization to the police among White, Black, and Hispanic women in the United States. Using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey, the study found that Black women were more likely than White women to use physical self-defense and to report IPV incidents to law enforcement, with self-defense positively associated with police reporting only for Black women. Conversely, Hispanic women who used physical self-defense were less likely to report to the police, while no significant relationship was found for White women. The findings highlight how race and cultural factors shape victims' responses to IPV and suggest the need for policies that address racial disparities in criminal legal system involvement and access to victim services.