Violence experienced by Black women calls for new approach
‘Alarming’ survey results are set to inform Future Black Female’s strategic plan
The results of a nationwide survey of young Black women’s and girls’ experiences with gender-based violence is alarming, and they point to a need for a targeted approach, says the head of a Niagara-based advocacy group.
Dr. Tapo Chimbganda, executive director of Future Black Female (FBF), said the need for last fall’s survey, in which Black girls and women aged 16 to 26 were invited to share their insights and experiences, stemmed from a general lack of information about this group.
Looking at the available data on abuse, sexual assault or harassment, she said, it’s difficult to find anything about them as a specific demographic.
This leaves groups like FBF, which focuses on helping these women and girls with their mental health, as well as providing career and education strategies, having to deduct from generalized information.
“As a demographic, a demographic with unique needs and experiences, there’s hardly any information about them,” Chimbganda said. “Because when you see a gap like that in information, what it virtually means is nobody’s actually looking at them as the client. They just have to use whatever programs and services are available, but none of them would have been designed with them as the client.”
The survey, which took place Oct. 1 to Dec. 15, found 63.64 per cent of Black women and girls experienced emotional or psychological abuse and 53.25 per cent reported sexual assault or harassment, while 22.08 per cent reported physical violence.
Chimbganda said the survey confirmed what her group has been seeing on the ground in dealing with this demographic in Niagara.
As an example of how this group differs from women in general, she said, there’s the added pressure from dealing with racism. She said the group also has to deal with sexualization earlier.
As a result, the organization proposes a multipronged approach to address their unique needs.
This includes developing resources tailored to the nuanced experiences and cultural contexts of Black, African and Afrocentric communities. Prevention is also key, with education focusing on proactive measures such as promoting consent, healthy relationships and bystander intervention and addressing underlying factors such as poverty.
As well, FBF is working to develop youth mentorship programs to empower youth.
“We are mobilizing young people to advocate (for themselves) and to advocate for others, to become leaders,” Chimbganda said.
This is important, she said, because the people best equipped to talk to young Black women and girls are those who can relate to them. She said the value of such lived experience is in its empathy.
“I can be as well-meaning as possible, but if I have no identification or shared identification with you, I will never quite understand or be able to respond to what you’ve been through,” Chimbganda said.
In some cases, it’s simply a matter of supporting efforts that are underway. Through its work in Niagara schools, FBF has been in contact with Black girls who have started affinity groups — in effect, creating safe spaces to help each other.
Chimbganda said this is often being done without mentorship and is sometimes being greeted with resistance, and they’re being told starting a group for Black girls only is racist.
This approach, she said, speaks to a lack of understanding of what it means to be a Black girl in Canada.
Where it can, FBF is supporting these efforts with its space, resources and expertise.
“We validate them and we help them do the work that they’ve been doing, often in isolation, with no support and sometimes with a lot of opposition,” she said.
Future Black Female also recently launched Udada, a user-friendly, culturally responsive virtual platform where young Black women can find mental health resources, tools and support.
Next month, it is presenting the Udada Conference, which will bring together experts, researchers and advocates to discuss important issues surrounding mental health among Black women.
The conference takes place on May 2 and 3 at White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa in Niagara-onthe-Lake and will include workshops and breakout sessions designed to equip participants with tools and techniques for promoting mental health.
For more, visit eventbrite.ca/e/ udada-conference-building-an-inclusive-mental-health-landscapetickets-774487361547.