A new study published in 2016 by Basil et al focused on the distinct experiences, responses and needs of African American women who are victims and survivors of sexual assault.
Effective prevention efforts require an understanding of the socio-cultural uniqueness of populations on which the work will be focused. A new study published in 2016 by Basil et al focused on the distinct experiences, responses and needs of African American women who are victims and survivors of sexual assault. Building off of a 2014 study (Breiding et al. 2014) that concluded that women of color experience a significantly higher rate of sexual assault, Basil found that women of color who experience racism, classism and other forms of oppression are not only at higher risk for experiencing sexual assault, but also have more difficulty accessing needed services in response to sexual assault. Basil also found that, of the women who experienced sexual assault, 73% were under the age of 18 and 90% knew their perpetrator. This information has important implications for crafting effective prevention programming that must start early and challenge community norms that support oppression and destructive, inaccurate images of African American women. A more in depth discussion of Basil’s findings can be accessed by clicking here.