12. Sexual Violence and Assault
Enslaved women and girls were systematically subjected to sexual violence, serving as both punishment and a means of control. This abuse was pervasive, with some estimates suggesting that 58% of enslaved women aged 15-30 experienced sexual assault by slave owners and other white men (via pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The trauma inflicted was profound and long-lasting, affecting their physical and psychological well-being. Such exploitation was legally sanctioned, as enslaved women had no legal recourse against sexual assault by white men.
