About Sexual Assault
Sexual violence happens in every community and affects people of all genders and ages. Sexual violence is any type of unwanted sexual contact. This includes words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent. A person may use force, threats, manipulation, or coercion to commit sexual violence.
Forms of sexual violence include:
- Rape or sexual assault
- Child sexual assault and incest
- Sexual assault by a person’s spouse or partner
- Unwanted sexual contact/touching
- Sexual harassment
- Sexual exploitation and trafficking
- Exposing one’s genitals or naked body to other(s) without consent
- Masturbating in public
- Watching someone engage in private acts without their knowledge or permission
- Nonconsensual image sharing
Sexual violence is preventable through collaborations of community members at multiple levels of society—in our homes, neighborhoods, schools, faith settings, workplaces, and other settings. We all play a role in preventing sexual violence and establishing norms of respect, safety, equality, and helping others.
What is consent?
Consent must be freely given and informed, and a person can change their mind at any time.
Consent is more than a yes or no. It is a dialogue about desires, needs, and level of comfort with different sexual interactions.
Who does sexual violence impact?
Victims of sexual violence include people of all ages, races, genders, and religions — with and without disabilities.
- Nearly one in five women in the United States have experienced rape or attempted rape some time in their lives (Black et al., 2011).
- In the United States, one in 71 men have experienced rape or attempted rape (Black et al., 2011).
- An estimated 32.3% of multiracial women, 27.5% of American Indian/Alaska Native women, 21.2% of non-Hispanic black women, 20.5% of non-Hispanic white women, and 13.6% of Hispanic women were raped during their lifetimes (Black et al., 2011).
Victims often know the person who sexually assaulted them.
People who sexually abuse usually target someone they know.
- Nearly three out of four adolescents (74%) who have been sexually assaulted were victimized by someone they knew well (Kilpatrick, Saunders, & Smith, 2003).
- One-fifth (21.1%) were committed by a family member (Kilpatrick, Saunders, & Smith, 2003).
Victims are never at fault.
Choosing to violate another person is not about “drinking too much,” “trying to have a good time,” or ”getting carried away,” nor is it about the clothes someone was wearing, how they were acting, or what type of relationship they have with the person who abused them. Violating another person is a choice.
Rape is often not reported or convicted.
A person may choose not to report to law enforcement or tell anyone about a victimization they experienced for many reasons. Some of the most common include:
a desire to protect the attacker for other reasons
a fear of not being believed
being afraid of retaliation
shame or fear of being blamed
pressure from others
distrust towards law enforcement