“Y’all Know This is Happening.” From Girlhood to Womanhood: A Life Course Analysis of Sexual Violence Among Young Black Women

This study examines the sexual violence experiences of Black women aged 18-25 through Black feminist and life course frameworks. From qualitative focus group data originally centered on sexual and reproductive health, themes of sexual violence emerged as a significant, unanticipated finding. Our analysis reveals how participants (1) experience trauma and trust violations across family, intimate partnerships, and institutional settings; (2) receive informal tools for sexual autonomy and advocacy from loved ones; (3) navigate exposures to narratives of sexual trauma; and (4) experience silencing within Black communities. Findings contribute to understanding the intergenerational transmission of sexual health knowledge and the need for communication-focused interventions that address both the explicit and silenced aspects of Black women's sexual and reproductive lives.