Researcher(s)
- Bailey Blewitt, Sociology, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Angela Hattery, Women and Gender Studies, University of Delaware
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of individual-level factors on institutional betrayal (IB) among Black and Hispanic victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) who interacted with the criminal legal system (CLS). A total of 199 participants who are 18 years or older, identify as a woman, transgender, or nonbinary, have experienced IPV, and identify as Black and/or Hispanic completed a qualtrics survey assessing their experiences with IB. ANOVA analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between IB scores and various individual characteristics: race, age, presence and number of children, education, employment status, and sexuality. Results revealed no significant effect of race on IB scores. However, significant differences were observed in IB scores by age, with younger participants (18-29) reporting higher levels of betrayal compared to older participants (40+). The presence of children was associated with lower IB scores, and individuals with more children reported lower betrayal levels than those with fewer children. Higher education levels were linked to greater perceptions of IB, and full-time employed individuals reported higher IB scores compared to part-time or unemployed participants. Finally, LGBTQ+ individuals experienced higher levels of institutional betrayal compared to heterosexual participants. These findings underscore the critical role of expectations in shaping perceptions of IB in the CLS. The study highlights the importance of understanding how individual expectations of victim/survivors effect experiences of IB and suggests that institutions must address these factors to offer more equitable and supportive responses.