Authored By: Elaina Jackson, Fahrenheit Creative Group, and Margaree Jackson, The Lighthouse | Black Girl Projects I am a mother of three girls, ages 10, 14, and 22. The idea that one day one of my girls could end up in a mentally or physically abusive relationship terrifies me. No matter how much I think I have prepared them to face the challenges of the world. No matter how much I tell them that they are loved, enough, beautiful, and powerful, I have come to learn that women from a variety of backgrounds, family structures, and stages of life can find themselves in dangerous relationships. And, these encounters might be subtle at first, making it difficult for the women who experience them to recognize the warning signs. For example, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in six women experiences sexual coercion, described as being worn down by someone who repeatedly asked for sex or sexual pressure from someone in a position of authority. On the surface, the woman might believe she “gave consent” to the repeated request, when in actuality, she has been coerced — which is sexual assault. I have come to learn that … Continue reading Abusive Relationships Could Be a Sign of Sex Trafficking