8. Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
Sexual violence was a pervasive and devastating reality for enslaved women and girls on plantations. Slaveholders and overseers frequently exploited their absolute power, subjecting women to assault and coercion. This abuse resulted in deep psychological trauma and the birth of mixed-race children, who often faced their own unique hardships. Victims had no legal protection or recourse, and the threat of sexual exploitation was a constant, haunting presence in plantation life.
