Severe Physical Violence and Black Women’s Health and Well-Being

Objectives. We evaluated the association between intimate partner violence and the mental and physical health status of US Caribbean Black and African American women. Methods. We used 2001 to 2003 cross-sectional data from the National Survey of American Life—the most detailed study to date of physical and mental health disorders of Americans of African descent. We assessed participants’ health conditions by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (Washington, DC; American Psychological Association) Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Results. We found differences in health conditions between abused African American and Caribbean Black women. There were increased risks for lifetime dysthymia, alcohol dependence, drug abuse, and poor perceived health for African American victims of partner abuse, and binge eating disorder was associated with partner violence among Caribbean Black women. Conclusions. Severe intimate partner violence was associated with negative mental and physical health outcomes for US Black women, with different patterns between African American and Caribbean Blacks. Understanding intimate partner violence experiences of US Black women requires recognition of key intragroup differences, including nativity and immigrant status, and their differential relationships to women’s health

Liminality and Event Design: Liminal Space Design for Sport Events

It has been argued that ritual has been sacrificed to give way to modern event management techniques that prioritise economic viability and stakeholder satisfaction over the ritual purpose of the event (Brown and James, 2004). In this chapter, the authors reject this argument, and instead propose that ritual is undergoing a new resurgence in terms of its impact on event design for sport events. The work contributes to existing research on the symbolic relationship between ritual and liminality in such liminoid happenings as sport events. The authors interpret the relationship between liminality and related terms associated with rituals: celebration, communitas, anti-structure and symbols. These are further discussed in view of design strategies that promote drama (i.e. dramaturgy), arousal of senses (i.e. atmospherics) and interactivity (i.e. servicescapes). It is asserted that, while ritual and liminality is far from extinct, there is an increasing importance for professional (sport) event organisers to show a greater understanding of how it should inform their creative process. This would enable them to execute high quality events that provide memorable experiences. The chapter demonstrates that liminality can inform event design and is a fundamental concept that must be considered for an event to be successful