Last Updated on April 16, 2024 by BVN
S. E. Williams
“Unfortunately, Black women remain vulnerable to sexual violence due to what we call intersectionality, the systematic oppression Black women experience based upon their race and gender… [T]he “Strong Black Woman” archetype, the dangerous single story told about Black women that uplifts their strength, perseverance and survival and minimizes their emotional well-being, tenderness and humanity, [results in a racist and sexist reality where] Black women are rarely protected.” – Jameta Nicole Barlow, PhD, MPH
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a time set aside each year to draw attention to a hard reality— that sexual violence remains widespread across the nation, impacting nearly every community.
April, more than any other time of the year, is a time when survivors, advocates, their loved ones and others in the community coalesce to raise awareness about the impact of sexual assault on victims, their families and community. Women are the majority in this country, accounting for more than 51% of the nation’s population and yet, their numbers are not enough to keep them safe.
According to the National Black Women’s Justice Initiative (NBWJI), for every Black woman who reports a rape, at least 15 do not report.
One in five women in the U.S. report they have experienced a completed or attempted rape during their lifetime. At least one in six women are sexually assaulted in the U.S. each year, and the proportion is one in four among college-aged women. Overall, the numbers are staggering. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), 81% of women reported experiencing “some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime.”
Sexual assault is devastating to any woman regardless of race or age, yet it is also important to recognize and acknowledge that the impact of sexual violence on Black women stands out among all women.
According to the National Black Women’s Justice Initiative (NBWJI), for every Black woman who reports a rape, at least 15 do not report. Between 2005 and 2010 African American girls and women 12 years and older experienced higher rates of rape and sexual assault than White, Asian, and Latina girls and women. In addition, a 2023 report found that 40% of confirmed sex trafficking survivors in the U.S. are Black.
Human trafficking is an abomination historically fueled with a narrative proclaiming white women and girls as its primary victims. Stories often told perpetuating this proclamation are eclipsed by the reality of what’s true—that Black women and girls over 12 are more likely to live this nightmare.
NBWJI noted Black women and girls may be disproportionately at risk of sexual violence because “they have been stereotyped as promiscuous and hypersexual for centuries.” Such stereotyping is alive and well today. In addition and equally as concerning is, due to the “strong Black woman” stereotype, Black women are less likely to be conceived as victims.
Black women and girls may be disproportionately at risk of sexual violence because “they have been stereotyped as promiscuous and hypersexual for centuries.”
NBWJI further reported the trauma of sexual assault for Black women and girls, in many cases, remains unacknowledged and unaddressed. This can leave these victims unprotected by the organizations and institutions responsible for their support and protection including schools, medical facilities and mental health providers.
The impacts of sexual trauma are many including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, substance misuse, suicide ideation and attempts, and other adverse health effects according to experts. For Black women, these impacts are further complicated by the added burdens of sexism and racism.
In most cases, community resources can and are an important component of a sexual assault survivor’s support network. In the inland region, the Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center (RARCC), is one of five non-profit organizations that provide resources and services for victims and survivors of sexual assault and their families.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing sexual violence or abuse and are in need of support, in addition RACC, services and support are also available through Safe Justice Family Centers, University of Riverside, California (UCR) Campus Advocacy, Resources & Education (CARE) Center and/or Tru Evolution’s Youth United support program for LGBTQ+ youth. Support is also available at the national level through the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
The disproportionate impacts of sexual assault and human trafficking experienced by Black women and girls is evidence of the expanded public health crisis racism continues to have on the Black community.
Of course, this is just our opinion. I’m keeping it real.