By Claire Dietz
Posters for sexual-assault-survivor support often depict white, college women. But what about women who aren’t white?
Tiffany Flowers sees the hyper-sexualization of African- American women as a cultural problem that prevents many women from coming forward about their experiences with sexual violence and assault.
Flowers, an assistant director of Amani Community Services, will give a lecture at 5 p.m. Thursday in 256 IMU. The lecture will discuss the stories she has heard at her job, an organization in Cedar Rapids that assists African-American survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault.
“It is a growing issue and consistent issue as far as the silence of African American women, women that come forward and talk about their experiences with sexual assault,” Flowers said. Rebecca Howard, a Just Living Student Ambassador had never realized “sexual assault has been completely whitewashed.”
“We subscribe to the narrative that puts a white, college woman on the cover as sexual assault survivors, but there are entire demographics we are not talking about,” Howard said. “I thought it would be important, especially on a college campus, to hold an event where someone who has dedicated her whole life to assisting survivors in the African-American community, to educate others on the specific plights regarding objectification, sexualization, and, ultimately, sexual violence many African-American women face.”
Many overlook the correlation between hyper-sexualization and sexual violence, particularly regarding women of color, she said.
Erika Christiansen, the director of programming & events in the Office of Outreach & Engagement, said she hopes the lecture will contribute to an essential discussion.
“The topic of social justice is relevant to each person; it connects us with others,” Christiansen said. “Injustice affects all of us. Learning the implications these acts hold over a community will be beneficial to anyone in attendance, Flowers said.
“Whether or not it’s their personal story, it is an issue that is affecting our coworkers, their children,” Flowers said. “Their children are interacting with other children, who may be victims of sexual assault, so this is something that is impacting them whether or not they might be aware of it. This lecture is to show some of the implications of the victim, and the perpetrator as well, and the ripple effect they have on their community.”
Flowers biggest recommendation to begin addressing this problem is to speak up.
“One of the biggest things is coming forward and breaking the silence,” she said. “I am a big believer that silence is the most oppressing force in sexual assault and sexual violence and the biggest contributor to a culture of sexual violence.”
Amani Cultural Services is located at 2310 Falls Ave., Suite 1,
Waterloo, and 1073 Rockford Road S.W., Cedar Rapids.
(1 888 983-2533)
LECTURE
“ExHOTic Girls Wanted: The Objectification of African American Women”
When: 5 p.m. Thursday
Where: 256 IMU
Admission: Free