Black Women's Perceptions of the Impact of Mass Incarceration on Their Romantic Relationships and Intimate Partner Violence

The social impact of mass incarceration drives different patterns of relationality and must be understood through a structural political analysis. This study aimed to (a) describe the romantic histories and current romantic relationship status of low-income, heterosexual Black women with criminal-legal system involvement (their own or other’s) and (b) examine the women’s understanding of the relation of mass incarceration to their romantic histories and current statuses. This study reimagines carceral violence to include the intimate sphere to highlight the distinct violent effects of the oppression of intimate romantic connection due to carcerality. Using intersectional research methods, qualitative interviews were conducted with 31 Black women between the ages of 18 and 65 years who were working class, resided in Southern California, and were impacted by the criminal-legal system. Data were analyzed using an intersectional Black feminist criminological framework. Findings revealed six types of relationship statuses: (a) single and dating; (b) single and not dating; (c) divorced and dating; (d) divorced and not dating; (e) “situationships” (non-committal, situationally convenient romantic relationship); and (f) not dating and not seeking a relationship. The women described mass incarceration as affecting their ability to find ideal romantic partners, and understood criminal-legal system involvement as a stressor that negatively impacted the quality of their romantic relationships. Findings indicated that disparate levels of stress were experienced by the women across relationship statuses. Findings also revealed that some women experienced intimate partner violence in their romantic histories and in their current romantic statuses