BIO

I am a fourth-year Service Scholar, a Garnet and Gold Scholar, and a 2021 Global Scholar. I was a research assistant and receptionist at FSU’s Center for Human Rights during my second and third years. I provided translation services and would file USCIS forms to support undocumented people. I took part in UROP my second year and became a UROP Leader from 2020-2022. After UROP, I continued conducting research with Dr. Brendan Lantz and Dr. Marin Wenger, investigating the relationship between Confederate memorialization and Hate Crimes. I had the opportunity to present this research at the 2020 Undergraduate Research Symposium and the 2021 Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC). I’m currently in the Honors Program assessing the consequences of image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ youth. I was a 2021 Social Science Scholar and was awarded the 2021 IDEA Grant which sponsored my research. I had the opportunity to present this research at the 2021 President’s Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence and 2022 FURC. I’m currently serving Tallahassee as a Community Outreach Specialist with Legal Services of North Florida organizing pro-bono legal clinics. I aspire to dedicate my career to addressing the ever-changing impacts of sexual violence and IBSA.

A Study of the Consequences of Image-Based Sexual Abuse Victimization among BIPOC Youth Survivors

Abstract

Image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) is the “disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent and for no legitimate purpose” (Franks 2017). IBSA, more commonly known as revenge porn, is an emerging form of sexual abuse negatively impacting the quality of life, mental health, wellbeing, and reputation of survivors (Eaton 2020; Franks 2015).

Growing research shows IBSA is rampant among adolescents, women, and the LGBTQIA+ community. This is especially harmful to BIPOC youth since they are often hypersexualized at a young age, making them more susceptible to IBSA victimization. IBSA subjects girls and LGBTQIA+ youth to being commodified by their bodies which is harmful since victimization is taking place during adolescence where they develop their identity, self-awareness, and sense of self. When youth are victimized they are sexually objectified and taught their worth derives from their body or sexual functions; thus teaching them they're objects accessible for the gratification of everyone else which may make them alarmingly vulnerable to sexual violence and revictimization.

This study aims to assess the consequences of IBSA victimization among BIPOC youth. Specifically how victimization distorts youths' understanding of consent and whether victimized youth are vulnerable to sexual violence in the future.

Keywords: Sexual Abuse Prevention, Adolescents, Image-Based Sexual Abuse Victimization