“I was sexually assaulted at four years old. It lasted about two years.”
Janitta Edwards is one of many women who is a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence. She bravely shares her story in hopes of helping others who may be going through similar experiences.
Her journey began when she was just a child, enduring the unthinkable at the hands of a family member. The trauma she experienced at such a young age left her feeling afraid and unable to speak up.
As she grew older, Edwards found herself in a cycle of abusive relationships, including one with the father of her three children, all under the age of 11. She believed that as long as he didn’t hit her or force her to do something, it wasn’t abuse. However, the emotional and verbal abuse she suffered was just as damaging until she almost lost her life.
“He choked me until I passed out,” she said. “He was angry. I didn’t want [the relationship] to work out solely for the sake of the children; we fought, and before you knew it, I was on the floor, knocked out. He laid over me crying because he thought he killed me, but when I woke up, he let me leave because he didn’t want to be a murderer.”
Despite her determination to break free from the cycle of abuse, she hoped to provide her children with the stable, loving family she never had. Unfortunately, her decision to return was short-lived, and she soon found herself in another abusive relationship with her ex-husband.
Edwards met her ex-husband at a church in 2017, and they quickly married after only six months of knowing each other. She moved in with him and his family, hoping to build a strong, supportive network. However, her fairytale dreams of love were shattered once again as she faced more emotional and financial abuse from her ex-husband. She moved in with him and his family in a trailer home and suddenly noticed poor behaviors like chronic smoking, inability to keep stable employment, stealing and porn addiction.
However, Oct. 14, 2021, was a day Edwards swore she would never forget.
“My eldest daughter made an outcry to me and told me that my ex-husband had been touching her and her sister. I knew what she was struggling to say,” she said. “He accused my daughter of lying. We all drove to the hospital where it was confirmed with forensics that they had been assaulted.”
He preyed on her daughter while Edwards was working in the daytime. She left him and took her children to a Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC) shelter for help. She was proud of how brave her daughter was because she didn’t have that courage when she was assaulted as a child.
Her ex-husband was on the run but was eventually arrested and is now serving 30 years in federal prison.
Leticia Manzano is the Senior Manager of Sexual Violence Services at HAWC and a survivor of sexual assault. She has spent years advocating for Black and Brown women who share similar experiences with her.
She was sexually abused at five years old by a family member who was 18, and again at 13 years old by a family member who was in his 30s, and then in her college years with a significant other.
“I was head over heels for him, and we’ve been together for a number of years, but unfortunately, I didn’t know about consent,” she said. “He wanted to have sex. I wanted to wait because of our similar religious upbringing. When I said no, he was angry; he used physical force to subdue me and forced me to have sex against my will. It was painful and traumatic. I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t want to get into trouble.”
Barriers to Reporting
According to Department of Justice statistics, Black girls and women 12 years and older experienced higher rates of rape and sexual assault than white, Asian, and Latina girls and women from 2005-2010. Black women in the U.S. also experience higher rates of intimate partner violence and gender barriers in access to health care compared to white women.
Several factors contribute to the underreporting of sexual assault among Black and Brown communities:
Victim Blaming: Mainstream narratives often place blame on the victim for their assault, focusing on what they were wearing or how they were acting. This victim-blaming culture is especially prevalent in some communities of color, making survivors feel responsible and ashamed.
Protecting the Community : In some communities, there can be a strong emphasis on protecting the reputation of the family or ethnic group. This can lead survivors to stay silent for fear of disgracing themselves or their loved ones.
Distrust of Law Enforcement : Negative experiences with the criminal justice system can make Black and brown communities distrustful of law enforcement. This can lead to a fear of retaliation or a feeling that the police won’t take their reports seriously.
Racial Stereotypes : Black women are often stereotyped as being hypersexual or promiscuous, which can lead to them being blamed for their assaults. This can make them feel ashamed or like they won’t be believed if they come forward.
Sexual assault is a serious crime that can have a devastating impact on survivors. While it can happen to anyone, there are often warning signs that something might be wrong in any situation. Understanding these red flags can empower individuals to take steps to protect themselves.
Predators often use pressure and control tactics to manipulate a potential victim into unwanted sexual activity. Here are some key red flags to watch out for:
Spiking drinks: Or pressuring someone to consume excessive amounts of alcohol or drugs. This impairs judgment and makes it difficult to consent.
Isolation : Trying to get someone alone or separate them from their friends. This tactic makes it harder for the person to get help if needed.
Ignoring or dismissing “no” means no : This includes verbal and physical cues of discomfort. Persisting despite these signals is a clear warning sign.
Threats or intimidation : Using threats of violence, harm to reputation, or emotional manipulation to coerce someone into sexual activity.
Guilt trips : Making someone feel responsible or obligated to have sex. This can involve emotional manipulation or preying on insecurities.
What could be considered sexual assault?
Manzano said many red flags can go overlooked when discussing sexual assault. Many perpetrators groom children or adults to gain their trust. Someone could slap your backside or brush up against you from behind, accidentally touching your breasts to see how the person will react. When it comes to children, it’s important to look for a change in their personality. Are they withdrawn all of a sudden when they see a relative? Not respecting your right to say ‘No’. Sending unsolicited sexual photographs is also a red flag when the person doesn’t respect your boundaries.
Survivors of sexual assaults in Harris County are not receiving the resources they are entitled to or anticipate since there are significant gaps in the county’s response timelines. Only 169 of the 1,107 reports of sexual offenses that the Harris County Sheriff’s Office received in 2022 were looked into, according to the agency.
According to the sheriff’s office, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office approved 77 charges, or roughly 7% of the total.
Only 60, or around 12%, of the 494 sexual assault accusations that were submitted between August 2022 and August 2023 resulted in convictions, according to the DA’s office.
During the same timeframe, 53 charges were dropped.
Edwards was lucky enough to have Fort Bend County take over her case to get her justice. But she said many survivors aren’t so fortunate.
“I want to see law enforcement do their due diligence in a timely manner and believe in the victims who come forward,” She said. “I want to see laws change in a way that protects people from abusers, like a father [for example] who has the right to see his kids but puts his significant other in danger.”
There are several services in Houston and surrounding areas for individuals who’ve experienced sexual violence:
- Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN): RAINN:
- AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse) avda.org
- Houston Area Women’s Center: HAWC:
- The Montrose Center: The Montrose Center:
- Mercy House: Mercyhousesite.org
- Texas Advocacy Project-
