Black Women's experiences of sexual assault and disclosure: Insights from the margins

Abstract

Black women experience higher rates of sexual assault or rape than their White counterparts and the U.S. Department of Justice finds only one Black woman out of 15 will report her rape. This article reviews the literature on the ways in which Black women's sexual assault disclosure experiences are framed by their unique social space at the margins of society due to systemic oppression based on race, gender, and class (Settles, Pratt‐Hyatt, and Buchanan). We situate this review around three major areas of marginalization: (a) the delegitimization of Black women as victims of rape, (b) the social construction of Black women as inordinately strong, and (c) the sanctioning of intraracial sexual assault disclosure. Despite a call for action by Angela Davis in 1985, Black women's unique and varied intersectional experiences around sexual assault and disclosure are understudied. We implore scholars to continue this important research and conclude this article with insights on future research and activism.

Computerized Intervention in Primary Care for Women Veterans with Sexual Assault Histories and Psychosocial Health Risks: a Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Considering the socio-political context in which sexual assault often occurs, it is not surprising most women do not volunteer their sexual assault history to providers 23 , many providers do not routinely screen for sexual assault history 24 , and most women will not present to an emergency room or mental health treatment setting in the aftermath of an assault 25,26 . Sexual, racial, and ethnic minority women experience high rates of sexual assault and are less likely to disclose the assault 12,13 and to seek care due to prior experiences of systemic racism and homophobia 13,14,52 . Among women veterans who experienced sexual assault in the military, the intersection between gender, race, and sexual identities 53 may Treatment use was assessed with a chart review of the VHA medical record and via self-report with the Treatment Services Review measure.…”

“…These processes have a heightened impact on marginalized populations. For example, sexual, racial, and ethnic minority women experience high rates of sexual assault, are less likely to disclose the assault 12,13 , and are less likely to seek care due to prior experiences of systemic racism and homophobia 14 compared to other women. These barriers may be enhanced among some women veterans seeking care at VA due to the military context in which many assaults occurred, and presence of persons who may remind them of their perpetrator 15,16 , and because racial/ethnic minorities are overrepresented among women veterans compared to the general population 17 .…”

An intersectional approach to military sexual violence

“…Examining violence through an intersectional lens reveals broader patterns of inequality and power relations in society (Collins, 2017). Scholars who have used intersectionality to examine sexual abuse have revealed that risk for victimization, experiences with victimization, and justifications and understandings of victimization vary based on how one's social identities intersect in a given context (Armstrong et al, 2018;Collins, 2017;Crenshaw, 1989Crenshaw, , 1992Davis, 1981;Donovan & Williams, 2002;Long et al, 2007;McGuffey, 2013;Ontiveros, 1993;Richie, 2012;Slatton & Richard, 2020).…”

“…White women are centered in research and mainstream understandings of sexual assault, which delegitimizes women of Color as victims (Crenshaw, 1991;Collins, 2004;Davis, 1981;Harris, 1990;Slatton & Richard, 2020). Collins uses the term "controlling images" to explain how constructions of Black women have shaped their experiences in the United States.…”

“…An intersectional approach to victimization also reveals important nuances in victim reporting and how victims are treated when they disclose. Black women who experience sexual violence are often disbelieved by police (Richie, 2012), less likely than White victims to have their cases prosecuted (Slatton & Richard, 2020), and are less visible than White victims in the media (Bonnes, 2013;Crenshaw, 1991). Crenshaw (1991) suggests that Black rape victims are not seen to be as "newsworthy" as White rape victims because they do not fit the ideal victim stereotype.…”