Featuring Women of the Sexual Violence Prevention Movement for Women’s History Month 2025

March is Women’s History Month. Women have historically and modernly advocated for safer communities, free of violence of all kinds, including sexual violence. Women have used their voices, communities, experiences, and strength to lift up survivors, catalyze legal protections, and inform societal perceptions around sexual violence. Learn about a few of the many advocates throughout time who have dedicated their expertise and lives to preventing sexual violence. 

Recy Taylor

In 1944, Recy Taylor’s life changed when she was abducted and sexually assaulted by a group of white men while walking home from church in the Jim Crow South. Despite the men’s confession, the authorities refused to bring justice. In response to growing outrage, Rosa Parks and other activists rallied for a grand jury investigation. Recy Taylor endured threats and intimidation but refused to stay silent. Her bravery in testifying against her attackers marked an early moment in the fight for justice for survivors of sexual violence. Though the courts failed her, her courage continues to resonate with survivors today. In 2011, the Alabama Legislature issued a formal apology for their failure to prosecute Taylor’s attackers.

Rosa Parks

While Rosa Parks is best known for her role in the civil rights movement, her activism also extended to issues of sexual violence. After the Recy Taylor case, she became involved in advocating for Taylor’s justice and for raising awareness about the sexual violence that Black women faced. Her activism paved the way for many others to speak out and demand justice for victims of sexual violence.

Susan Brownmiller

Susan Brownmiller’s groundbreaking book, Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape, published in 1975, transformed social perceptions about sexual violence. Through comprehensive historical analysis, Brownmiller examined the cultural, social, and political factors that perpetuate sexual violence. She introduced the term “date rape,” which helped change the conversation around consent and sexual assault. Her work remains a touchstone in understanding sexual violence and continues to influence both activists and policymakers.

Mary P. Koss

Mary P. Koss’s landmark 1987 study, The Scope of Rape: Incidence and Prevalence of Sexual Aggression and Victimization in a National Sample of Higher Education Students, was the first large-scale survey on sexual violence prevalence on college campuses. Her research, which revealed the startling frequency of sexual violence, has had a lasting impact on policies and practices related to campus safety. Koss’s development of the concept of “rape culture” also helped shed light on the societal conditions that perpetuate sexual violence, informing a broader movement for change.

Amanda Nguyen

In 2016, Amanda Nguyen authored the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights, which was signed into law by President Obama. As the founder of Rise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to codifying civil rights, Nguyen has tirelessly fought for the rights of sexual assault survivors. She also authored the Survivors’ Resolution, passed through the United Nations General Assembly. Her advocacy extends beyond legislation, igniting global movements to stop sexual violence and, more recently, to combat hate toward Asian communities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tarana Burke

Tarana Burke, an activist and advocate since her teenage years, founded the #MeToo movement to bring attention to the pervasive sexual violence impacting women, particularly young Black girls. What started as a grassroots movement in Selma, Alabama, gained worldwide recognition when it went viral in 2017. Burke’s vision for a survivor-led movement continues to empower victims, providing a platform for their voices while encouraging healing and solidarity. Through her leadership, she’s helped shift the conversation on sexual violence toward justice and survivor-centered solutions.

Chanel Miller

Chanel Miller’s powerful memoir, Know My Name, published in 2019, gave a voice to her experience of sexual violence, the courtroom trauma she endured, and her journey of healing and advocacy. Miller’s courage to share her story has had a profound impact on how survivors are heard and treated in both legal and societal contexts. Through her writing and activism, she has become a prominent figure in challenging the culture of sexual violence and advocating for change.

End Note

These are just a few of the many advocates who have paved the way for sexual violence prevention. We recognize the important work that folks are doing every day, and from the local level to the national level, the work you do matters.