No consent and no disclosure: Black Australian women and sexual violence

Abstract

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have been at the forefront of resisting power and advocating against numerous modes of violence perpetrated against them. From oppressive acts of the state, societal issues relating to racism and discrimination, and interpersonal acts of physical, verbal, and sexual violence, these women have responded in various ways. Yet there are still gaps in the research relating to violence, particularly sexual offences against women, that must be addressed to unpack its interplay with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. This chapter explores the missing elements in understanding sexual violence and the push/pull of power between Australian society and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. It examines structural reinforcement of power discrepancies, including institutional domains, white feminist discourse, and gaps in data that contribute to the story of violence against Black Australian women.