Sexual Violence Against Women

The experiences of women are deeply influenced by a historical and ongoing struggle for bodily autonomy and respect. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly one in three women worldwide (approximately 30%) have endured physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or non-partner at some point in their lives.^1,2 Violence against women, particularly sexual violence, remains a pervasive issue, affecting women across various demographics and cultural backgrounds. Women from minority communities, including women of color, Indigenous women, LGBTQIA+, and those with disabilities, often face heightened risks of violence due to systemic discrimination, socio-economic disparities, and cultural stigmas that create additional barriers to justice and support.² Transgender women, who are women, face alarmingly high rates of violence. A study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law found that transgender individuals are over four times more likely than cisgender individuals to experience violent victimization, including rape, sexual assault, and aggravated or simple assault.³ Additionally, data from Everytown for Gun Safety reveals that in 2023, 50% of gun homicides of transgender or gender-expansive people were Black trans women, highlighting the compounding impact of racism, misogyny, and transphobia.⁴

It is crucial to recognize that women have intersecting identities, some with multiple marginalized identities that place additional barriers to rights, freedom, and access to care. These layers of discrimination compound the challenges women face when seeking justice, support, and autonomy over their own bodies.²

Systemic Challenges and the Policing of Women’s Bodies

Many women face systemic challenges rooted in traditional gender roles that dictate their choices and resources. The policing of women’s bodies is an urgent and relevant issue, as it directly impacts their ability to make choices about their health, safety, and reproductive rights.⁵  The policing of women’s bodies is not new, instead a longstanding issue that persists across cultures and societies throughout history. From restrictive dress codes to forced sterilizations and reproductive control, women have continuously struggled for autonomy over their own bodies. In the United States, recent political shifts in 2025, there is a growing movement to control reproductive rights and criminalize women based on their healthcare choices.⁴ These new restrictions on bodily autonomy not only undermine women’s fundamental freedoms but also place them at greater risk of coercion, surveillance, and criminalization.⁶

The Role of Gender Stereotypes in Perpetuating Violence

As gender roles continue to evolve, women often encounter conflicts in gender-role expectations that can stifle independence. Stereotypes such as women are weak, too emotional, should be seen and not heard, etc. These stereotypes objectify women, and perpetuate harmful perceptions and contribute to a culture of violence against women. These stereotypes, which portray women as submissive and objects of desire, dehumanize and devalue their experiences, trivializing their voices. Such beliefs can lead to the normalization of harassment, assault, and systemic violence that fuels cycles of abuse. Cultural shifts are necessary to combat harmful stereotypes, so that society no longer puts blame on women and holds perpetrators accountable for harm.

The Impact of Sexual Violence 

Sexual violence is a significant issue that disproportionately affects women. Survivors often face substantial barriers when reporting their experiences, including victim-blaming, fear of retaliation, and an inadequate legal system that frequently fails to hold perpetrators accountable.^1-3 Women from marginalized communities, including women of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals (especially transgender women), and those with disabilities, encounter additional layers of discrimination that make accessing justice even more difficult.^{2, 3} These intersecting identities create unique challenges that exacerbate the violence and systemic inequalities faced by these survivors, making their experiences even more complex and difficult to address. 

Advocacy and Systemic Change

A collective effort is necessary to combat violence against women and advocate for systemic change. Policy reforms, survivor-centered legal frameworks, and community-based support systems are essential to fostering a safer society for all women.^{7, 8} By actively working towards dismantling systemic barriers and promoting education on bodily autonomy, we can work to progress the women’s rights movement and pave the way for future generations to thrive in a society that respects and values women. 

Sources

1. World Health Organization. (2013). Responding to intimate partner violence and sexual violence against women: WHO clinical and policy guidelines. World Health Organization.
2. Violence against women Prevalence Estimates, 2018. Global, regional and national prevalence estimates for intimate partner violence against women and global and regional prevalence estimates for non-partner sexual violence against women. WHO: Geneva, 2021. 
3. Flores, A. R., Meyer, I. H., Langton, L., & Herman, J. L. (2021). Gender Identity Disparities in Criminal Victimization: National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017-2018. American journal of public health, 111(4), 726–729. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.306099 
4. https://www.everytown.org/press/new-everytown-data-on-transgender-homicides-reveals-concentration-in-the-south/ 
5. Taylor, E. (2024). Marginalized Survivors’ Experiences Accessing Campus or Community Resources that Address Gender-Based Violence. RANGE: Journal of Undergraduate Research (2024).
6. Goodwin, M. (2020). Policing the womb: Invisible women and the criminalization of motherhood. Cambridge University Press. 
7. https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/issues/abortion/federal-and-state-bans-and-restrictions-abortion 
8. Ralte, M. H. (2024). Womens Empowerment and Gender Equality. Academic Guru Publishing House.