WHAT IS SEXUAL VIOLENCE?

Sexual Assault is defined as non-consensual sexual contact or behavior upon someone by force, coercion, or incapacity due to age, mental or physical disability, or alcohol or substance use. Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault including, men, children, transgender or gender-fluid persons, and regardless of sexual orientation.

Alcohol/Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault is when a perpetrator uses date-rape drugs (GHB or Rohypnol) or alcohol to incapacitate a person and sexually assault them. Often victims have no or limited memory of the assault.

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is a form of child abuse in which an adult or an older adolescent forces or coerces a child into sexual acts for the abuser’s sexual gratification or financial profit. Forms of CSA including engaging or attempting to engage a child in sexual activities, exposing a child to or using a child in the production of pornography, exposing one’s genitals to child. CSA has long-lasting effects on the survivor including increased risk of further victimization, substance abuse, depression, eating disorders, anxiety, sexual problems, memory loss, and detachment issues. Men and boys who have been sexually abused as a child may also face some additional challenges because of social attitudes and stereotypes about men and masculinity.

Human Trafficking is when a perpetrator uses force, fraud, or coercion upon someone to engage in commercial sex acts. Both immigrants and U.S. citizens can be trafficked. It is not necessary to cross country or state borders to traffick someone.

Incest is defined as sexual activity between close family members who are prohibited from marrying i.e., parent/child, siblings, close cousins. Incest may or may not be consensual. An example of consensual incest is two adult siblings or cousins having sexual relations. An adult having sex with a child is never consensual.

Prison Rape is a crime. The Prison Rape Elimination Act requires facilities take reports, investigate, and provide access to services for prisoner victims of rape. This includes staff raping inmates and inmates raping other inmates.

Sexual Harassment is when someone is harassed due to their gender, sex, or orientation. Employers and schools/colleges have an obligation to provide harassment free workplaces/schools. The perpetrator may be a person of authority (employer, supervisor, teacher), a co-worker, or fellow student. Harassment can include unwanted sexual advances, request for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment.

Military Sexual Trauma refers to sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment a soldier experienced while on active military duty.

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence (IPSV) is a tactic used by abusive partners to control an intimate partner. Often, IPSV consists of repeated rape, sexual degradation, and at times, forced prostitution, over the course of a relationship.