Written by Shannon Mathew, SN-NL Knowledge Management Expert
Over the past two weeks of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign, we have gone beyond narrow legalistic definitions of gender-based violence and sought to explore the complex web of inequalities and oppression that leads to its myriad manifestations. And now it’s time to talk about race and gender-based violence.
At the heart of the issue is the perpetuation of GBV through structural inequities. Systems of oppression— including racism, xenophobia, and colonialism — are deeply embedded in institutional, cultural, interpersonal, and internalised dimensions of society. For survivors of GBV, the intersection of race with gender often compounds their vulnerability to violence and the systemic barriers they encounter in seeking support and justice. Marginalised individuals, particularly women and gender-diverse people of colour, navigate violence at the confluence of several systems of oppression in relation to their multiple identities.
Please note: in this article, ‘women of colour’ includes the experiences of gender-diverse people of colour (POC) and feminised bodies of any age, due to the wide reach of misogyny and sexism subjecting anyone in the orbit of ‘femaleness’ and ‘femininity’ to violence.
Persisting historical systems of oppression
The roots of gender-based violence against women of colour run deep, tracing back to centuries of oppression. We see this in extensive historical accounts showing how enslaved women were subjected to systemic sexual violence as a tool of control, subjugation and reproduction. Similarly, indigenous women around the world were particularly targeted during colonisation, their bodies treated as battlegrounds in the pursuit of cultural and physical genocide.
As we know, the legacy of these historical injustices continues to shape the experiences of women of colour today. Women of colour are disproportionately vulnerable to intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and trafficking compared their white counterparts. Research has consistently shown that these communities experience higher rates of violence, which can be attributed to systemic factors such as historical oppression, ghettoization, poverty, social marginalisation, and the enduring impacts of colonialism and slavery. Many postcolonial researchers see the high rates of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in lower and middle-income countries as being inextricably linked to the violence of colonialism.
The ongoing marginalisation of women of colour and the historical trauma they have endured contribute to their heightened vulnerability to violence. Migrant women of colour, particularly those working in domestic and agricultural sectors, face disproportionate economic exploitation and sexual abuse. This exploitation persists, with women in low-wage, precarious jobs remaining highly vulnerable to abuse. Multiple studies highlight the unique challenges faced by immigrant women, who may be hesitant to seek help due to language barriers, fear of deportation, and cultural stigma.
Racialised stereotypes contribute significantly to the perpetuation of gender-based violence. Women of Colour are hypersexualised in the media and popular culture, which can lead to harmful perceptions that lead to reduced empathy for their suffering, make them less deserving of protection, and justify violence against them. For instance, we see harmful stereotypes about women of colour, like the “angry Black woman” characterised as aggressive or hypersexual, or the fetishisation of the “submissive and exotic Asian woman” – both of which fuel sexual harassment and violence.
Women of colour often carry a double burden in their experience of violence, as systemic barriers within legal and social systems often make it harder or entirely prevent women of colour from accessing justice and support. For example, due to the constant threat of deportation, undocumented immigrant women may be reluctant to seek help or report to authorities which makes them even more vulnerable to abuse. Additionally, mistrust of law enforcement due to racism may also deter women of colour from reporting violence due to the fear of not being believed, experiencing even more abuse in a vulnerable state, perpetuating stereotypes about their community, or exposing their partners to racialised state violence.
Cultural norms and community structures also play a significant role in how GBV is experienced and addressed, keeping in mind how deeply rooted patriarchy and stigma around vocalising against GBV can be. For centuries, women of colour have been subjected to horrific violence, from the enslavement of Black women and colonisation of indigenous lands to atrocities committed against women during wartime and conflict. This painful history continues to shape the experiences of women today. Many women, especially those from marginalised communities, face pressure to prioritise their community over their own safety. This can make it incredibly difficult to seek help or be giving support – even when in immediate danger – because the fear of retaliation in the form of ostracisation or further violence is a greater fear.
Addressing the racial dimensions of gender-based violence
The 16 Days of Activism campaign is built on the need to advocate for an intersectional and decolonial approach to GBV research, prevention, response, service delivery, and programming.
Firstly, advocacy and support services must be culturally competent, sensitive, and responsive to the specific needs of survivors from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Instead of homogenising groups with generalised assumptions – including the grouping of ‘women of colour’ – it’s crucial to understand the several systems of oppression in relation to their multiple identities and respect uniqueness of experiences.
Secondly, to break out of the saviour mentality and remember that agency can never be given; however, environments can be created that are conducive to the exercising of agency and decision-making capabilities. What is needed is more research, more funding, more resources to empower communities to address violence through education, prevention programs, and support services. Centering the voices of POC survivors are steps towards creating a safer and more equitable world for all.
Thirdly, we need to uncover and challenge not only the visible but also the insidious racist and colonial mindset that permeates political, social, economic and cultural systems. Consider the multiple layers of how the intersectional identities play out in interpersonal dynamics to institutional levels, and dismantle the barriers that prevent survivors from seeking and receiving justice. This means incorporating anti-racist and decolonial frameworks, advocating for policies that offer inalienable protections to marginalised communities and hold perpetrators accountable, while being pragmatic towards the realities and desires of survivors.
And finally and the most important, (self)reflection is key. As said very aptly by the independent aid organisation HI in their toolkit on intersectionality in GBV-programming, “the process of self-reflection starts by questioning our own identity factors, our privileges and disadvantages resulting from these factors. Then, it is about questioning each and every one of our biases and prejudices, which are influenced by our identities, our belonging to dominant or dominated groups, our direct or indirect personal experience of GBV”. To work towards end GBV and VAWG, one must always question the unconscious biases and assumptions which can hinder the ability to identify those most at risk and in need of support.
Can you hear the warning bells?
Like a canary in a coal mine, violence perpetrated against the most marginalised – such as women and gender-diverse people of colour, indigenous people, immigrants – is often a warning sign of broader destruction. The pulse of a society can be checked by its desire and ability to safeguard the most vulnerable of its population. Therefore, addressing racial and colonial determinants of gender-based violence is essential not only for the safety of survivors of violence, but as an integral step towards dismantling systemic violence on a larger scale.
References
Government of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. (2019, March 21). Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/society-societe/community-communite/ifca-iac/evidence_briefs-donnees_probantes/gbv-vfg/chowdhury-eng.aspx
Humbert, A. L., Strid, S., Tanwar, J., Lipinsky, A., & Schredl, C. (2024). The Role of Intersectionality and Context in Measuring Gender-Based Violence in Universities and Research-Performing Organizations in Europe for the Development of Inclusive Structural Interventions. Violence Against Women, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012241231773
Intersectionality & Men’s Violence Against Women of Color – Center for Relationship Abuse Awareness & Action. (2023, May 10). Center for Relationship Abuse Awareness & Action. https://stoprelationshipabuse.org/action/intersectionality-violence-against-women-of-color/
Intersectionality in Gender Based Violence Programming | HI. (n.d.). https://www.hi.org/en/intersectionality-in-gender-based-violence-programming
Mannell, J., Amaama, S. A., Boodoosingh, R., Brown, L., Calderon, M., Cowley-Malcolm, E., Lowe, H., Motta, A., Shannon, G., Tanielu, H., & Vergara, C. C. (2021). Decolonising violence against women research: a study design for co-developing violence prevention interventions with communities in low and middle income countries (LMICs). BMC Public Health, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11172-2
Park, S. (2021, September 29). The Links Between Racialized and Gender-Based Violence | ACLU. American Civil Liberties Union. https://www.aclu.org/news/racial-justice/the-links-between-racialized-and-gender-based-violence
Tahirih Justice Center. (2021, August 10). Gender-Based Violence – Tahirih Justice Center. https://www.tahirih.org/who-we-serve/forms-of-violence/ Violence, E. (2022, April 7). The intersections of race and gender. BWSS. https://www.bwss.org/intersections-of-race-and-gender/
Featured illustration by Shonagh Rae for NY Times.
