Supporting Survivors of Sexual Abuse & Domestic Violence
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DID YOU KNOW?...
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), African American women experience domestic violence at disproportionately high rates compared to women of other racial and ethnic groups. Here are some relevant statistics:
Prevalence: African American women experience domestic violence at a rate of 35% higher than white women and 2.5 times the rate of women of other races. (Source: NCADV)
Lethality: Domestic violence-related homicides are also higher among African American women. They are more than twice as likely to be killed by a spouse or intimate partner than white women. (Source: Institute for Women's Policy Research)
Barriers to Seeking Help: African American women face unique barriers to seeking help and accessing support services, including cultural stigma, fear of discrimination, and mistrust of law enforcement and the legal system.
Intersectionality: Domestic violence intersects with other forms of oppression experienced by African American women, such as racism, poverty, and lack of access to resources. These intersecting factors can exacerbate the risk and impact of domestic violence.
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Why We Do What We Do...
Sexual abuse and assault are unfortunately widespread issues that impact many women globally. Here are some statistics that shed light on the prevalence of these crimes:
Global Prevalence: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1 in 3 (35%) women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.
National Statistics (United States):
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The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) reports that every 73 seconds, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted.
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In the U.S., 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men have been raped at some time in their lives.
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About 51.1% of female victims of rape reported being raped by an intimate partner and 40.8% by an acquaintance.
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The vast majority (91%) of victims of rape and sexual assault are female.
Underreporting: It's important to note that sexual assault is often underreported due to factors like fear of retaliation, stigma, and mistrust in the justice system. It's estimated that only 5-20% of sexual assaults are reported to authorities.
Impact on Mental Health: Survivors of sexual abuse and assault often experience long-term psychological consequences, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders.
Intersectionality: Women from marginalized communities, such as LGBTQ+ individuals, women of color, and women with disabilities, are at higher risk of experiencing sexual violence due to intersecting forms of discrimination and systemic oppression.