Black women experience disproportionately high rates of sexual assault. Their survivorship and healing are shaped by the intersecting forces of racism, sexism, classism, and historical trauma. This hermeneutic phenomenological study, guided by Black feminist theory, explores how Black women make meaning of sexual assault and pursue healing within the context of gendered racism. Fourteen cisgender Black women residing in the United States participated in semistructured interviews, and thematic analysis was used to identify patterns across their narratives. Participants’ accounts revealed the compounded effects of gendered racialized stereotypes that hinder disclosure, amplify shame, and complicate recovery. At the same time, participants identified culturally grounded sources of resilience and empowerment. Clinical implications are also discussed.
Samuel et al. (Sun,) studied this question.