Main Content
Dr. Carolyn West is a
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International Speaker
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Filmmaker
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Author
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Domestic Violence Expert
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Culture Sensitivity Trainer
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Expert Witness
While also being apart of the inaugural Resident Fellow of the Office of Community Partnerships.
In this role, Dr. West will engage publicly as a faculty member at UW Tacoma and as a Resident Fellow through public scholarship and student engagement.
Learn more about her life's work here.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming: Becoming a Leader by Leaning Into Your Story
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 | 12:30 PM
Location: Tate-Turner-Kurait Auditorium
CE: 1hr of CE credit will be offered to participants
Series Description
Presented by Carolyn M. West, Ph.D., University of Washington Tacoma and Doris O’Neal, YWCA of King County
Black women-identified survivors have been disproportionately harmed by the triple pandemics of COVID-19, intimate partner violence, and racial injustice. As a field, we must boldly design and create innovative approaches to service provision. These webinars will give advocates the tools and practical strategies to identify, reach, and effectively serve this population.
Presenters will offer highlights from their newly released 4-part NRCDV TA Guidance document series of the same name. The series includes:
- Part 1: Providing Survivor-Centered, Culturally Responsive, Trauma-Informed, Strengths-Based Care
- Part 2: Taking an Intersectional Approach
- Part 3: Understanding Reproductive Coercion, Non-Fatal Strangulation, and Intimate Partner Homicide
- Part 4: Using a Web of Trauma to Understand Black Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
Day 1: Tuesday, February 27, 1-3pm Eastern/10-12pm Pacific
Advocates will learn to:
- Provide survivor-centered, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, strengths-based care and advocacy that leads to real-world change.
- Learn how IPV is influenced by the intersecting identities of Black survivors, such as ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Day 2: Thursday, February 29, 1-3pm Eastern/10-12pm Pacific
Advocates will learn:
- How to conduct culturally responsive assessment and treatment for the forms of IPV that disproportionately impact Black survivors, including reproductive coercion, non-fatal strangulation, and domestic homicide.
- How IPV occurs within a Web of Trauma (historical trauma, family violence, structural violence, institutional violence, cultural violence, and community violence).
Public Scholarship
15. Rice, J., West, C. M., Cottman. K., & Gardner, G. (2022). Intersectionality and intimate partner violence in the Black community. In R. Geffner, J. W. White, L. K. Hamberger, A. Rosenbaum, V. Vaughan-Eden, & V. I. Vieth (Eds.), Handbook of interpersonal violence and abuse across the lifespan: A project of the National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan (NPEIV) (pp. 2705-2733). New York: Springer Nature.
14. Williams, O. J. & West, C. M. (2021). Introduction to Special Double Issue: Domestic Violence in Black Communities. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 30(6), 707-713.
13. West, C. M. (2021). Widening the lens: Expanding the research on intimate partner violence in Black communities. Special Issue of Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 30(6), 749-760.
12. Guadalupe-Diaz, X. L. & West, C. M. (2020). The intersections of race and immigration. In A. Messinger & X. L. Guadalupe-Diaz (Eds.), Transgender Intimate Partner Violence: A Comprehensive Introduction (pp. 133-166). New York: New York University Press.
11. West, C. M. (2019). Toward and ecological model of violence among African Americans. In W. S. DeKeseredy, C. Rennison, & A. Sanchez (Eds.), The Routledge International Handbook of Violence Studies (pp. 190-209). New York: Routledge.
10. West, C. M. (2018). Crucial considerations in the understanding and treatment of intimate partner violence in African American couples. In R. A. Javier & W. Herron (Eds.), Understanding Domestic Violence: Theories, Challenges, Remedies (pp. 213-235). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
9. West, C. M. (2018). Mammy, Sapphire, Jezebel, and the Bad Girls of reality television: Media representations of Black women. In J. Chrisler and C. Golden (Eds.), Lectures on the psychology of women (5th ed.) (pp. 139-158). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press.
8. Nnawulezi, N., & West, C. M. (2018). Institutional strategies to promote the health of Black women survivors of intimate partner violence. Meridians: Feminism, race, transnationalism. 16(2), 276-285.
7. West, C. M. (2018). Treatment interventions for intimate partner violence in the lives of African American women: A social justice approach. In S. Gelberg, M. Poteet, D. D. Moore, & D. Coyhis (Eds).Radical Psychology: Multicultural and Social Justice Decolonization Initiatives (pp. 89-110). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
6. West, C. M. (2016). African Immigrant Women and Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 25(1), 4-17.
5. West, C. M. (2016). Living in a web of trauma: An ecological examination of violence among African Americans. In C. C. Cuevas & C. M. Rennison (Eds.), The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook on the Psychology of Violence (pp. 649-665). Oxford, UK: John Wiley & Sons.
4. West, C. M. (2016). Hidden in Plain Sight: Structural Inequalities and (In)visible Violence in the Lives of African American Women (pp. 85-102). In L. Wilton & E. Short (Eds.), Talking about Structural Inequalities in Everyday Life: New Politics of Race in Groups, Organizations, and Social Systems. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
3. West, C. M. & Johnson, K. (2013, March). Sexual violence in the lives of African American women. Harrisburg, PA: VAWnet, a project of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence/Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. http://www.vawnet.org/Assoc_Files_VAWnet/AR_SVAAWomenRevised.pdf
2. West, C. M., (2010). Resistance as recovery: Winning a sexual harassment complaint. In A. White (Ed.), African Americans doing feminism: Putting theory into everyday practice (pp. 175-188). New York: State University of New York Press.
1. West, C. M. (2009). Still on the auction block: The (s)exploitation of Black adolescent girls in rap(e) music and hip hop culture. In S. Olfman (Ed.), The sexualization of childhood (pp. 89-102). Westport, CT: Praeger Press.
6. West, C. M. (2024, February). Technical Assistance Guidance Series: Serving Black Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence. In consultation with Doris O'Neal, YWCA of King County. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cm0C3nUKqDI2spElu--4LrMEQ3jBwvGz/view?usp=sharing
5. West, C. & Powell, S. (2021). Confronting racism in the pornography industry. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/confronting-racism-pornography-industry-opinio…
4. Dines, G. & West, C. M. (2020, July 9). Pornhubs #Black Lives Matter genre and the industry’s brash racism. Slate.com https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/07/pornhub-black-lives-matter-genre-racism.html
3. West, C. M. (2020, June) “Who’s Your Daddy?” Exploring the Images of Black Men in Pornography. Fight The New Drug. https://fightthenewdrug.org/how-mainstream-porn-perpetuates-racist-stereotypes-of-black-men/
2. West, C. M. (2020, April). Sexual assault awareness month: Why racist pornography is a form of sexual violence. Fight The New Drug. https://fightthenewdrug.org/how-mainstream-porn-normalizes-violence-against-black-women/
1. West, C. M. (2020, March). Racism in Pornography: Why I care and you should too. Fight The New Drug. https://fightthenewdrug.org/why-does-the-porn-industry-get-away-with-racist-portrayals-of-black-peopl
Presentations
4. West, C. M. (2021, November). Let me tell ya’ll ‘bout Black chicks: Understanding adultification and sexual violence in the lives of Black girls. Virtual Keynote for the Justice for Girls Coalition of Washington State.
3. West, C. M., O'Neal, D., & Scaia, M. (2021, April). Engaging with women who use force. Webinar for Center for Court Innovation. https://www.courtinnovation.org/publications/Webinar-Women-Who-Use-Force
2. West, C. M. (2020, October). Widening the lens: Intimate partner violence and Black women. Webinar at YWCA Week Without Violence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv6JNqx3FuE
1. West, C. M. (2020, May). Escape the Cape. Keynote Webinar for the Women Faculty Leadership Institute 2020. Florida International University. https://mediaweb.fiu.edu/Mediasite/Play/2325901080464465a7424162d0cf84b21d
4. West, C. M. (2020, December). From Black Lives Matter to Black Wives Matter: Exploring how pornography has sexualized social justice movements. University of Washington Tacoma Grit City Think and Drink. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqZLU4dKjIQ
3. West, C. M. (2020, November). Escape the cape: Changing perspectives on partner violence and media images. 2020: The Course. University of Washington. https://www.washington.edu/uaa/academic-resources/2020-the-course/carolyn-west/
2. West, C. M. & Kuljam, T. (2019, April). Fail Forward: Student Employee Appreciation Luncheon. Keynote at University of Washington. Tacoma, WA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FDxg_rYKFU
1. West, C. M. (2016, November). Writing the books that you want to read. University of Washington’s Distinguished Research Award Address. Tacoma, WA.
INTERVIEW/PODCASTS
2. Wilson-Edge, Eric (2021, May). Without a safety net. University of Washington Tacoma: News & Information. https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/news/without-safety-net
1. Morgan, Rachel (2021, March). Revolutionary BIPoC women of the UW: Dr. Carolyn West. The Daily of University of Washington. https://www.dailyuw.com/opinion/article_68015018-821e-11eb-ab16-47eed057f7c7.html
5. "I Didn’t Know What a Healthy Relationship Was" Red Table Talk (November, 2022) https://www.facebook.com/538649879867825/videos/543220134308981/?__so__=permalin
4. Porn and Prejudice: Is racism in pornography fueled by the shame and silence of its audience? (February, 2022). https://slate.com/podcasts/a-word/2022/02/does-porn-exploit-or-empower-black-performers
3. Race and Porn. Culture Reframed Facebook Live interview with Gail Dines. (2020, June). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeetLdUiq_k
2. Violence in the Lives of Black Women. Black and Highly Dangerous Podcast hosted by Tyrell Conner & Daphne Michelle. https://www.blackandhighlydangerous.com/single-post/2018/12/05/Episode-47-Violence-in-the-Lives-of-Black-Women-w-Dr-Carolyn-West (December, 2019)
1. Sexual violence in the lives of African American women. Sister Survivors Podcast hosted by Katherine Barner. https://katherinebarner.org/ep-sexual-violence-in-the-lives-of-african-american-women/ (October, 2019)
NEWS/INTEREST
4. Megan Thee Stallion opens up in "Why I speak up for Black Women" op-ed about domestic violence. CBS Los Angeles (2020, October). https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/10/13/rapper-tony-lanez-court-hearing-tuesday-in-shooting-of-megan-thee-stallion/
3. Newton, Kamilah (2020, October 26). Why Black women may miss red flags of abusive relationships: “You start to believe you don’t have any value.” Yahoo News https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/why-black-women-may-miss-red-flags-of-abusive-relationships-you-start-to-believe-you-dont-have-any-value-170246324.html
2. Deaderick, Lisa (2020, August 30). Shooting of Megan Thee Stallion show how Black women see lack of sympathy as victims of violence. The San Diego Union-Tribune. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/columnists/story/2020-08-30/shooti…
1. Ross, Janell (2019, February 28). R. Kelly’s arrest barely scratches surface of a much-needed #MeToo reckoning for black girls. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/r-kelly-s-arrest-barely-scratches-surface-much-needed-metoo-n977816
MEDIA
West, C.M. (2018). (Director and Producer). Let me tell ya’ll ‘bout Black chicks: Images of Black women in pornography.