TRIGGER WARNING: Materials contain information about gender-based violence, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.
Day 06: Gender-Based Violence’s Impact on Women of Color
In the United States, one in three women and one in ten men will experience intimate partner violence. however, systemic barriers–such as racial stereotypes about what the perfect victim looks like–hinder many women of color when they attempt to receive the support they need when they find themselves in abusive relationships.
Read this article
to learn why women of color tend to experience domestic violence and sexual assault at higher rates than the general population
(4 minutes)
Read this article
about singer FKA Twigs and why it is a reminder of the disproportionate effects intimate partner violence can have on black women
(5 minutes)
Read this article
on how gender-based violence impacts women in the Asian and Pacific Islander community
(5 minutes)
Listen to this podcast
discussing how intimate partner and sexual violence can have additional hurdles to healing for immigrant women
(30 minutes)
Day 07: Intimate Partner Violence in LGBTQ+ Communities
Although the dominant media narrative surrounding intimate partner violence generally features a straight, white woman as the survivor, intimate partner violence is equally common in the LGBTQ+ community and has a particularly disproportionate impact on trans women of color.
Read this article
that talks about the high rates of intimate partner and sexual violence against LGBTQ+ people and why the discrimination they face often makes them hesitant to seek support
(4 minutes)
Read this article
about how COVID-19 restrictions has posed a serious safety risk to LGBTQ+ people experiencing intimate partner violence
(6 minutes)
Watch this video
about the need to center LGBTQ+ survivors of color in conversations about intimate partner and sexual violence
(14 minutes)
Day 08: Gender-Based Violence & Homelessness
According to YWCA USA, one out of every four women who has experienced homelessness was a victim of violence. No one should have to choose between shelter and abuse, and that fact is why access to housing is key to ensuring the safety of survivors of intimate partner violence. Today’s resources discuss the barriers that victims of intimate partner violence face to maintain stable housing and what can be done to help survivors navigate those challenges.
Watch this video
that explains why safe and affordable housing is one of the most pressing concerns for survivors of violence and abuse
(3 minutes)
Read this article
from YWCA USA about why we believe no one should have to choose between shelter and their physical safety
(4 minutes)
Read this article
on the complex relationship between homelessness and sexual assault and the range of factors that increase homeless women’s risk
(5 minutes)
Day 09: Financial Abuse
Financial abuse is a common tactic abusers use to control their partners, and this type of control comes in many forms. Theft, withholding funds, taking out loans, or signing up for credit cards in their partner’s name can all be forms of abuse that make victims more reliant on their abuser. Today, we will explore financial abuse, how it often goes hand-in-hand with other forms of abuse, and why it can be so devastating to victims.
Watch this video
that explains how common financial abuse is and how to recognize the signs
(2 minutes)
Read this article
that explains why financial abuse can also be demoralizing, terrorizing, and traumatic for people in abusive situations
(7 minutes)
Listen to this podcast
discussing the realities of financial abuse and how this often “invisible” abuse method is so prominent in intimate partner violence cases
(27 minutes)
Day 10: Human Trafficking
Human trafficking affects every community in the United States, but generational trauma, historic oppression, discrimination, and other factors like race and gender create greater vulnerabilities for individuals and communities.
Read this article
explaining that human trafficking and domestic violence don’t occur in silos– rather, there is a marked overlap in the pattern of behaviors that both abusers and traffickers use to exert power and control over a victim
(3 minutes)
Read this article
to learn how accurate and realistic narratives about human trafficking in television shows and movies can impact how people understand the issue and, more importantly, whether or not victims and survivors are able to recognize their own experiences
(5 minutes)
Read this article
to understand 12 myths about human trafficking and learn how trauma, oppression, and other inequities create community-wide vulnerabilities
(20 minutes)
Week 2 Action Steps:
- Consider these ways you can become an ambassador in your community and help prevent violence before it starts
- Identify and be ready to share community resources like YWCA with others
- Support survivors of domestic violence served at YWCA by hosting a drive for items needed most
Week 2 Discussion Questions:
Once you have completed this week’s challenges, we encourage you to take a moment to reflect.
- What was the most impact piece of content you read this week?
- What was the most challenging thing you learned this week?
- How can individuals and groups create safe and effective ways to support those dealing with gender-based violence?
- How can you empower men and others to stop gender-based violence in their communities?
- Who stands to gain if girls and women are empowered?
Share each challenge online with #YWCAEquityChallenge