Black men's intimate partner violence victimization and help‐seeking experiences: Integrating and applying intersectionality and hegemonic masculinity

Abstract Many theories have been applied to understanding varied experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization, IPV‐related help‐seeking, and barriers to help‐seeking, including intersectionality theory to describe the influence of multiple systems of oppression on IPV victimization and help‐seeking. Although theorizing on IPV has historically focused on violence against women, more attention has been paid in recent years to men's IPV victimization and help‐seeking experiences. However, much of this literature is anti‐feminist and does not account for the impact of race and racism on men's experiences. Some researchers go as far as to blame feminism for the barriers that men face when seeking help and ignore the influence of White‐supremacist patriarchal systems on the men under study. The focus of this paper is Black men, as their IPV victimization experiences are rarely empirically accounted for, though they do experience IPV victimization. By applying intersectionality and hegemonic masculinities to this sparse body of literature, we aim to illuminate the conundrums Black men face when victimized and making help‐seeking decisions in the context of patriarchy and White supremacy.