What the Data Says
1 in 4 Black women have been sexually assaulted in their lifetimes; that is more than the national average that says 1 in 5 women experience sexual assault.
Intimate Partner Violence
Research unequivocally demonstrates that Black women are disproportionately affected by intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and homicide. These injustices are the direct result of systemic racism and policies that require engagement with the legal system to receive assistance. Furthermore, Black women are criminalized at a higher rate when defending themselves from abusive partners due to intrinsically held negative attitudes about Black women that stem from the legacy of enslavement. Racist policies intentionally create significant barriers when seeking safety and deny Black women access to economic opportunities, healthcare, and education, further exacerbating the prevalence of violence against them. The data above represents Black women’s experiences of violence.
45.10% of Black women have experienced intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes
31.80% of Black women reported being fearful, concerned for safety, having post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, injury, need for medical care, housing services, victim advocate services, and/or legal services, missing at least one day of work or school, and contacting a crisis hotline.
41.20% of Black women have experienced intimate partner physical violence in their lifetimes.
53.80% of Black women have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetimes
8.80% of Black women have been the victims of intimate partner rape in their lifetimes
17.40% of Black women have experienced intimate partner sexual violence (other than rape) in their lifetimes
9.50% of Black women have experienced intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes
Breast Cancer Stats
If breast cancer is caught early while in the localized stage, Black women have a 95% chance of a 5-year survival rate. However, the survival rate drastically decreases without early detection. According to the CDC, once the cancer has entered the regional stage and has spread to neighboring tissues, the 5-year survival rate drops to 78%. In comparison, white women have an 86.5% 5-year survival rate once their cancer has entered the regional stage.
In 2008, African American women were 10% less likely to have been diagnosed with breast cancer but almost 40% more likely to die from breast cancer as compared to non-Hispanic white women (HHS, 2014). According to research, as of 2019, breast cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death for Black women. Black women have a 12% HIGHER overall cancer death rate and are 41% more likely to die from breast cancer.
The gap in breast cancer incidence and outcome among Black women is complex and multifactorial. Social, economic, and behavioral factors may partially account for disparities. Black women are statistically more likely to have diabetes, heart disease, and obesity and are less likely to breastfeed after childbirth—all of which are risk factors for breast cancer. They are more likely than white women to have inadequate health insurance or access to healthcare facilities, which may affect screening, follow-up care, and completion of therapy. (BCRF, 2023).