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Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is a general term that encompasses a wide range of behaviors. Anyone can be a
victim of sexual violence. However, women and girls are most likely to experience violence of this
type. Sexual violence is most often committed by someone known to the victim such as a spouse,
partner, family member, co-worker, friend or acquaintance.
According to Basile and Saltzman (2002), there are four
types of sexual violence:
- A completed sex act without the victim's consent, or involving a victim who is unable
to provide consent or refuse. This includes:
- Stranger Rape: is unwanted sex forced on the victim by an assailant whom the
victim does not know. Stranger rape frequently involves the use of force or threat of harm
through physical violence (e.g. beating, use of weapons).
- Acquaintance Rape: is forced,
manipulated, or coerced sexual contact by someone the victim knows.
The assailant may use the threat of harm, coercion, or mental incapacitation
of the
victim using alcohol or drugs, or physical force to overcome the
victim.
- Date Rape: is a form of Acquaintance Rape and is forced sexual contact by someone the
victim is, or has been, dating. Whether this is the first date, or whether they have been together
for years, it is still considered rape when sex is forced on someone by the use of threats,
cajoling, trickery, or intimidation.
- Gang Rape: is rape in which there is more
than one assailant.
- Same-sex Rape: is when a person is raped by someone of their own sex.
- Partner/Spouse Rape: is when a person is raped by their partner or spouse.
- An attempted (but not completed) sex act without the victim's consent, or involving a
victim who is unable to provide consent or refuse.
- Abusive sexual contact including intentional sexual touching, either directly or through
the clothing, of any person without her or his consent, or of a person who is unable to consent or
refuse.
- Non-contact sexual abuse including voyeurism ("peeping Tom"); exhibitionism ("flasher");
pornography; verbal or behavioral sexual harassment; threats of sexual violence to accomplish some
other end; or taking nude photographs or a sexual nature of another person without her or his
consent or knowledge, or of a person who is unable to consent or refuse.
If you, or someone you know, has experienced sexual assault please check out our
Survivor Help section for information on options and support.
References:
Sexual Assault Information
Statistics |
Sexual Violence Continuum |
Myths & Facts | Alcohol & Drugs
About Violence
Effects of Victimization |
Sexual Assault |
Sexual Harassment
Intimate Partner Violence | Stalking |
LGBTQ Survivors | Male Survivors
Differently-Abled Survivors
