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Chapter 11 - Sexual Intimacy in Black Heterosexual Couple Relationships: Challenges and Opportunities toward Relational Intimacy

from Part IV - Sex and Intimacy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2023

By
Danielle Y. Drake  and
Daktari Shari R. Hicks
Edited by
Yamonte Cooper  and
Erica Holmes
Yamonte Cooper
Affiliation:
El Camino College, Torrance, California
Erica Holmes
Affiliation:
Antioch University, Los Angeles
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Summary

Sexual intimacy in couple relationships in the Black community has been under siege since the arrival of enslaved Africans in the United States and has interfered with heterosexual Black men and women creating and preserving healthy sexually intimate bonds. This chapter explores sociopolitical factors, including gender roles, and power dynamics that affect sexual intimacy among heterosexual Black couples. Culturally specific factors that can promote resilience are highlighted with a view toward increasing the understanding of Black heterosexual relationships as emotionally supportive spaces, with an emphasis of intentional intimacy as acts of social justice. Creative interventions for use in clinical practice are offered to assist in expanding sexual intimacy with Black couples.

Keywords

Black / African Americanheterosexualstraightcouplestherapysexualityintimacycreativityarts
Type
Chapter
Information
Black Couples Therapy
Clinical Theory and Practice
 , pp. 255 - 272
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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