Gender Violence Education and Support Services::Information

Resources and Information for Survivors of Color

All survivors of sexual assault face many challenges – social, emotional, physical, and psychological. Sadly, there are social, economic, and cultural barriers that often make it difficult for survivors of color to find and receive necessary services and resources. Each community of color faces its own unique barriers to finding and receiving appropriate services and resources. However, there are common barriers among communities of color, which include:

Cultural and/or religious beliefs that restrain the survivor from leaving the abusive relationship or involving outsiders.
Strong loyalty binds to race, culture and family.
Distrust of law enforcement, criminal justice system, and social services.
Lack of service providers that look like the survivor or share common experiences.
Lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
Lack of trust based on history of racism and classism in the United States.
Fear that their experience will reflect on or confirm the stereotypes placed on their ethnicity.
Assumptions of providers based on ethnicity.
Attitudes and stereotypes about the prevalence of domestic violence and sexual assault in communities of color.
Legal status in the U.S. of the survivor and/or the batterer.

[Bullet points taken from: http://www.ocadsv.com/OCADSV_WhatYouShouldKnow_CommunitiesOfColor.asp]

Knowing that there are these barriers will hopefully help ensure that survivors of color can find and receive the necessary services and resources they are in search of. Additionally, it needs to be recognized that racism is still a potent force in our society. If you believe you have been, or targeted for, a sexual assault based on your race or ethnicity, you may be a victim of a hate crime. Please consider contacting the Gender VIolence Education and Support Services office (303-871-3853) for confidential assistance or the Center for Multicultural Excellence (303-871-2942). You can also visit the resources page for other DU and community resource.