Making Connection -Prevention Demands Equity 2023

Rural Newsletter April 2023
Karrollyn Fitisone 
Every April, the Nation brings attention to (SAAM) - Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This movement is spearheaded by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) and consists of multiple efforts to educate and engage the public in issues surrounding sexual assault. This year marks the 22nd anniversary of SAAM which means officially it has not be around for very long however, the fight for rights for people of color, women’s rights, and other social activism efforts have all made conversations around sexual assault and domestic violence more possible and have definitely played an integral role in promoting justice and change where needed. The theme of Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2023 is “Drawing Connections: Prevention Demands Equity.” Photo Credits: NSVRC

This theme ties in really well with the history surrounding sexual assault in that sexual violence is often fought hand in hand with ending systems of oppression. There we have our drawn connections. Systems of oppression such as racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ageism, ableism, and others can contribute to higher rates of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. Prevention is often seen as the greatest way to reduce the risk of harm, and really a safer way to approach potential or prospective problems. Therefore the message that is being expressed is really that we cannot end sexual assault or violence without also addressing the unequal treatment of populations within our communities, to be truly immune, exempt, free, or safe from sexual violence, we have to be fair, just, honest, and value one another!

Rural Relation: As we know sexual assault does not discriminate, in fact it impacts every person in the community. 47% of all transgender people have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives (James et al. 2016). This statistic is truly heartbreaking and speaks to the importance of advocating for all people irrespective of gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, and so on and so forth. We know that perpetrators of domestic and sexual abuse can be and are most often found (over 80%) within our own social circles: relatives, religious leaders, partners, and this can cause underreporting because of emotional pressures. Furthermore the U.S. Justice Department Bureau of Justice Statistics found in a 2010 survey that 65% of rapes and sexual assaults in rural communities go unreported. It is the hope through this project that we get a glimpse of American Samoa, a recognized rural territory, and furthermore a closer look at our fa’afafine (in the manner of a woman) population, our socially accepted third gender (assigned male at birth, does not adhere to Western constructs of gender identity or sexual orientation, exhibits both masculine and feminine traits) Fa’afafine/SOFIAS members pictured Pictured Source: SOFIAS FB Page

College rape statistics about transgender, genderqueer, and gender nonconforming (TGQN) students have shown that in 2019 an average of 23% of students were in danger of being sexually assaulted, compared to 18% of non-TGQN students. These stats are concerning because they are significantly higher than college sexual assault statistics 2018, which means the problem is getting out of control. Sexual violence has been found to be even higher in some subpopulations within the transgender community, including transgender youth, transgender people of color, individuals living with disabilities, homeless individuals, and those who are involved in the sex trade (DOJ, Office for Victims of Crime). As we know that fa’afafine are often described by transgender terminologies and are sometimes even placed under that identification label, it is important that we document their experiences of violence and how to best serve them. These shocking and disheartening statistics highlight the need for education, policy change, and a combined community effort to address the causes of hate and ensure that victims can get the support that they need. It is our hope that through the Rural Grant Project we can get some much-needed insight of the state of dv/sa within our fa’afafine community in order to help victims survive, get effective service provision, and produce more advocates and hopefully more positive change for them in the various sectors of the island.
​PC L-R: Icon Scout, UCLA- Williams Institute/Dreamstime, Wikimedia Commons Sources for Statistics: NSVRC, Statistics, NYT, LAT, Women’s Center Youth and Family Services, Rainn, MSN, USA Today, The nation, Department of Justice, Calcasa, The Insider, US Center for Disease Contro