Recognizing Black History Month through celebration and reflection
February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements of Black individuals and communities and to reflect on their ongoing fight for justice and equality. Throughout the month, we will be highlighting Black women and advocates who have paved the way for anti-violence work and explore some of the intersections of gender-based violence and racial violence.
It is critical that we reflect on the fact that Black women continue to be subjected to disproportionate rates of violence. Black women are 2.5 times more likely to be subjected to intimate partner violence compared to non-Black women, and they are significantly more likely to be murdered by an intimate partner. Black women are overrepresented among femicide victims. According to a 2021 report by the Canadian Femicide Observatory, racialized women account for 40% of all femicide victims despite making up less than 22% of the population.
It is also critical that we reflect on the fact that Black women face disproportionate barriers due to systemic and personal racism. These barriers are evident in how systems such as policing, courts, child protection, and health care respond to their needs. For instance, Black children are over-represented in Ontario child welfare systems. Black children are admitted into welfare systems at a rate 2.2 times higher than what is proportionate with the percentage of the population they make up. (Ontario Human Rights Commission)
There is a significant correlation between Black women experiencing IPV and facing criminalization. Black women are commonly mistaken for the primary aggressor when police respond to an IPV call being subjected to great scrutiny by police and not being believed (Woman ACT). We also discuss this research and other research on the impact of mandatory charging policies on marginalized communities in our discussion paper on mandatory charging.
The statistics and research mentioned above highlight the urgent need for culturally sensitive and equitable support systems and services. Recognizing and dismantling the unique barriers faced by Black women is essential in creating equitable and effective support systems. By understanding these barriers, we can advocate for more inclusive, anti-oppressive, and culturally informed approaches to supporting all women experiencing gender-based violence.
We encourage you to learn more about Black women and their experience of GBV by exploring the links posted below:
