“It will always feel worse because it comes with that added ‘betrayal’”: Black Young Women Survivors’ Reactions to Cultural Betrayal Trauma Theory (preprint)

Due to the interlocking oppressions of racism and sexism (e.g., intersectionality), Black women’s experiences of high rates of sexual violence are often ignored. As a Black feminist framework, cultural betrayal trauma theory (CBTT) examines within-group violence in the Black community. Though quantitative research has found support for CBTT, Black young women survivors’ perspectives have not been empirically examined. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to qualitatively examine Black young women survivors’ reactions to CBTT. Respondents (N = 37), aged 18-30 years, provided their thoughts on CBTT following participating in a quantitative study. We found that almost 75% of survivors agreed with CBTT, with 50% displaying a community orientation to the harm and/or healing from cultural betrayal trauma. Black young women survivors’ resonance with CBTT, as well as their recommendations for community-level solidarity and healing have important implications. Beyond narrow focus on the individual, the Black community, as a collective, can eradicate violence and silencing, while healing together, one and all.