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Sexual Violence—Class/race/ethnicity—articles

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'I am at the lowest end of all' : Rural women living with HIV face human rights abuses in South Africa

added 06/11/2008
Amnesty International (AI) (March 2008)

"This report provides an analysis of patterns of human rights abuses against women who are exposed to the risk of or are already living with HIV in rural contexts of widespread poverty and unemployment."

A pilot study of abuse among Vietnamese Amerasians

added 08/19/2008
Robert S. McKelvey and John A. Webb

"This report describes a pilot study of the prevalence of physical and sexual abuse, and current levels of psychological distress correlated with a history of abuse, in a group of Vietnamese Amerasians bound for the United States. Abused male Amerasians reported significantly higher levels of psychological distress than nonabused male Amerasians, while abused and nonabused female Amerasians did not differ in their levels of psychological distress."

Age at First Sexual Assault and Current Substance Use and Depression

added 10/05/2005
Catherine Kaukinen and Alfred DeMaris

This article explores how the association between sexual violence and substance use and mental health differs by race and life course stage. Although sexual violence does not heighten the risk of problem drinking for White women, minority women victimized in adulthood are significantly more likely to engage in problem drinking and use illicit drugs. This suggests that for minority women the effects of recent victimization experiences result in immediate and potentially long-lasting consequences. The findings with respect to the association between sexual violence and depression are consistent with the child and adolescent development literature. It is Hispanic women who are more likely to suffer depression as a consequence of child sexual assault.

American Indians and Crime (pdf)

added 07/07/2008
Lawrence Greenfield and Steven Smith, U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics

"Reports rates and characteristics of violent crimes experienced by Native Americans and summarizes data on Native Americans in the criminal justice system."

Coerced First Intercourse and Reproductive Health Among Adolescent Women in Rakai, Uganda

added 01/20/2005
Michael A. Koenig, Iryna Zablotska, Tom Lutalo, Fred Nalugoda, Jennifer Wagman and Ron Gray

This paper addresses linkages between coerced first sex and selected reproductive health behaviors and outcomes in a sample of 575 sexually experienced adolescent women in rural Uganda.

Commodifying Honor in Female Sexuality: Honor Killings in Palestine

added 10/08/2001
Suzanne Ruggi is a staff reporter for The Jerusalem Times.

Discusses honor killings and the history of this practice in Palestine.

Eliminating Barriers to Services for Latina/o Survivors of Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence (pdf)

added 12/01/2004

This is the position statement by Latino advocates to address barriers to services for Latina/o survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence

Ethnic differences in circumstances of abuse and symptoms of depression and anger among sexually abused Black and Latino boys

added 08/19/2008
Peter A. Moisan, Kathy Sanders-Phillips, and Paula M. Moisan

"The present study was designed to examine the extent to which ethnic differences in the circumstances of abuse would be related to psychological outcomes and whether the relationship of ethnicity to psychological outcomes would be independent of ethnic differences in the circumstances of abuse."

Exploring the Association Between HIV and Violence: Young People's Experiences with Infidelity, Violence and Forced Sex in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

added 01/20/2005
Heidi Lary, Suzanne Maman, Maligo Katebalila, Ann McCauley and Jessie Mbwambo

This paper examines the relationship between HIV and sexual coercion in Tanzania.

Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence (pdf)

added 08/04/2008
Patricia Tjaden and Nancy Thoennes, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (July 2000)

"Presents findings from the NVAW Survey on the extent, nature, and consequences of IPV in the US. The survey compares victimization rates among women and men, specific racial groups, Hispanics and non-Hispanics, and same-sex and opposite-sex cohabitants. "

Final Report: Focus Group on Public Law 280 and the Sexual Assault of Native Women

added 06/11/2008
The Tribal Law and Policy Institute (TLPI) (December 2007)

"The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) hosted a focus group in Green Bay, Wisconsin to discuss challenges to, and opportunities for, collaboration between states and tribes in Public Law 280 jurisdictions to address sexual assault in Indian country."

Five Years On: No Justice for Sexual Violence in Darfur

added 06/11/2008
Human Rights Watch (April 2008)

"Drawing on various data sources, this report covers: Sexual Violence in Darfur in 2007-08; Government's Response; International Response; and Sudan's Obligation to Prevent, Investigate and Punish Sexual Violence."

Gender Dimensions of Racial Discrimination (pdf)

added 11/07/2001
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

This publication produced by the United Nations describes gender and racial discrimination women face and the efforts to combat it with recommendations of action.

Hispanic Victims of Violent Crime, 1993-2000 (word)

added 07/07/2008
US Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics

"Examines violent crimes committed against Hispanic victims including rape, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated and simple assault. Crime victimizations are compared with those of four non-Hispanic groups: whites, blacks, American Indians, and Asians."

Hurricanes Katrina/Rita and Sexual Violence: Report on Database of Sexual Violence Prevalence and Incidence Related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

added 07/07/2008
National Sexual Violence Resource Center

"This is a preliminary report from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center on the first six months of data collection on sexual violence committed in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita."

Other formats: pdf

Immigrant Populations as Victims: Toward a Multicultural Criminal Justice System (pdf)

added 07/07/2008
National Institute of Justice

"This report summarizes findings from a study about the criminal justice system's approach to immigrant victims of crime and barriers that prohibit immigrants from reporting crimes."

Maze of Injustice: The failure to protect Indigenous women from sexual violence in the USA

added 08/24/2007
Amnesty International Report on Sexual Violence Against Native Women

"Amnesty International hopes that this report can contribute to and support the work of the many Native American and Alaska Native women’s organizations and activists who have been at the forefront of efforts to protect and serve women... By supporting initiatives developed and directed by Indigenous women, Amnesty International seeks to provide an additional platform for discussion about sexual violence against Indigenous women."

Population Reports: Ending Violence Against Women

added 07/21/2008
Population Information Program, Center for Communication Programs, In collaboration with Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) (December 1999)

"This publication discusses gender-based violence from a feminist-based, ecological perspective. It examines the dynamics of abuse, cultural context, impact on women's health & how health care providers can contribute to social change efforts."

Routinely Targeted: Attacks on Civilians in Somalia

added 06/11/2008
Amnesty International (May 2008)

"The report documents sexual violence and killing of Somali civilians by Ethiopian troops, militias, and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces."

Seeking Protection: Addressing Sexual and Domestic Violence in Tanzania's Refugee Camps

added 03/05/2003

This report documents how Burundian refugee women confront daily violence in Tanzanian refugee camps.

Sexual Assault in Indian Country: Confronting Sexual Violence (pdf)

added 12/14/2005

This document highlights certain types of sexual assault evidence and presents it within the historical treatment of native populations, jurisdictional problems and prevalence of violence.

Other formats: html

Sexual Victimization in Indian Country: Barriers and Resources for Native Women Seeking Help

added 07/07/2004
Sherry L. Hamby, Ph.D., Research Associate Professor,

This paper summarizes the barriers facing and resources available to American Indian victims of sexual victimization, with a focus on systemic barriers found in the organizations and communities most likely to serve native women. Additionally, the paper reviews how an understanding of these issues can enhance services and help eliminate violence against future generations of American Indian women.

Other formats: plaintext • pdf

Sexual Violence in Communities of Color (pdf)

added 07/07/2008
Women of Color Network

"This "Facts & Stats Collection" paper highlights specific issues and distinguishing dynamics that confront different women of color, including African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American/Alaskan Indian women."

Sexual Violence in the Lives of African American Women: Risk, Response, and Resilience

added 07/07/2008
Carolyn M. West with contributions from Jacqueline Johnson

"This paper synthesizes information on African American female victim/survivors. It addresses historical context, survivor traits, risk factors, health consequences, culturally sensitive responses, and resilience of survivors."

Other formats: pdf

Silent Epidemic: A Survey of Violence Among Young Asian American Women

added 06/16/2005
National Asian Women's Health Organization

This report examines the impact of sexual violence, intimate partner violence and stalking on young Asian American women. The study also examines levels of awareness, prevalence, and access to services. It also addresses cultural and institutional barriers that Asian American victims of sexual violence, intimate partner violence and stalking may face.

Sovereignty of the Soul: Exploring the Intersection of Rape Law Reform and Federal Indian Law

added 10/30/2006
Sarah Deer

This article focuses on the legal challenge of addressing sexual violence in the tribal justice system. The author provides an in-depth analysis of the intersection between sexual violence and Federal Indian law and discusses statistical information, the historical context and the challenges facing the tribal governments in addressing the problem.

Other formats: pdf

Surviving Violence and Poverty (pdf)

added 12/06/2002

This document examines the link between domestic and sexual violence, women's poverty and welfare. This report contains a statistical overview of the problem and recommendations for future policy change.

The Effects of Violence on Women's Employment

added 07/21/1998
 

This is an abstract of a paper by Susan Lloyd of the Joint Center for Poverty Research of the Macarthur Foundation. The paper addresses whether women who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence have lower employment rates than women who have not.

The Impact of Hate Violence on Victims: Emotional and Behavioral Responses to Attacks

added 09/21/2001
Arnold Barnes and Paul H. Ephross

From Social Work, May 1994, pp. 247-251, posted by the National Asssociation of Social Workers. This study explored the nature of hate attacks and victims' responses to them. The sample consisted of 59 victims and included black, white, and Southeast Asian people. Data were obtained through focus group meetings, individual interviews, and questionnaires. More than half of the victims reported experiencing a series of attacks rather than a single attack. Anger, fear, and sadness were the emotional responses most frequently reported by victims. About one-third of the victims reported behavioral responses such as moving from the neighborhood or purchasing a gun. The responses of hate violence victims were similar to those of victims of other types of personal crime. Implications for social work intervention are discussed.

The Prevalence and Circumstances of Child Sexual Abuse among Latina Women

added 08/19/2008
Gloria J. Romero, Gail E. Wyatt, Tamra Burns Loeb, Jennifer Vargas Carmona and Beatriz M. Solis

"This study examined the prevalence and circumstances of child sexual abuse in a community sample of Latina women, 18 to 50 years of age. Chi-square tests of independence and t-test procedures were used to assess the prevalence, characteristics of the victim, assault, perpetrator, disclosure, and long-term effects. One in three Latina women reported incidents of sexual abuse, regardless of acculturation or citizenship status. More than one third of the women also experienced revictimization, with more than 80% of initial incidents occurring from the age of 7 years. Treatment implications and community-based interventions for Latina survivors of child sexual abuse are discussed."

The Right to Survive: Sexual Violence, Women and HIV/AIDS (pdf)

added 06/22/2005
Françoise Nduwimana

This report describes the unparalleled situation experienced by women who were raped and infected with HIV/AIDS during the Rwandan genocide.

The Role of International Law in the Struggle against Sex-based and Gender-Based Violence against Refugee Women (pdf)

added 11/10/2004
Maya Steinitz

This document introduces international law and its uses against sex-based and gender-based violence against refugee women.

Trapped by Inequality: Bhutanese Refugee Women in Nepal

added 10/01/2003

Following investigations of sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers in refugee camps in West Africa, several cases of sexual exploitation involving refugee aid workers surfaced in Nepal in October 2002. This report highlights not only the hardship of life in refugee camps, but also the injustice of gender-based violence and discrimination for Bhutanese refugee women in Nepal.

Other formats: pdf

Whose Safety?: Women of Color and the Violence of Law Enforcement (pdf)

added 02/16/2005
Anannya Bhattacharjee

This comprehensive research report documents how women of color, both immigrant and U.S-born, face violence and the abuse of authority from law-enforcement agencies - from local police to the prison system to INS raids. Drawing on interviews with nearly 100 anti-violence activists as well as published sources, "Whose Safety?" outlines community interactions with enforcement agencies, the impact of enforcement violence on key areas of women's lives, and current anti-violence movements.

Women of Color Health Data Book (pdf)

added 08/02/2004
W. A. Leigh and M. A. Lindquist

This report describes health status of women of color, which encompasses four major groups of women—Native, Hispanic, black, and Asian Americans—with subgroups within each of the major groups. The health of adolescent and elderly women of color receives separate attention as well. The section includes violence and sexual abuse.