One in four Black girls will be subjected to an act of sexual coercion by the age of 18. The hyper-sexualization of Black women starts at a young age, as they are typically predisposed to develop more voluptuous features during their preteen years. This creates the belief that they are promiscuous, sexual beings who are always open to sexual opportunities.

When Black girls are raped or sexually assaulted, people negate their youth, innocence and vulnerability, and instead suggest they are “grown,” impure and knew what they were doing. They are not allowed the opportunity to mourn the loss of their innocence or given the assistance they need to pick up the pieces. Instead, they are expected to move through life as if nothing has happened, which has many consequential effects — a major one being the sex abuse to prison pipeline.

A 2006 study conducted in Oregon found that 96% of girls in the juvenile justice system were sexually abused at least once in the past. Similarly, a 2009 study in South Carolina found that 81% of delinquent girls had a history of rape or sexual assault.

Deja Wortham

Writing since February 2022 · 1 story contributed