Types Of Sexual Violence

What Is Sexual Violence

Sexual violence refers to any sexual activity during which one person does not freely give consent or is unable to give consent. This includes completed and attempted sexual acts.

Many cases of sexual violence may involve violent or coerced acts. However, the incident does not need to be violent (e.g., involve coercion or inflict other bodily harm) to be considered sexual violence.

Any sexual act committed against a minor under the age of legal consent is an act of sexual violence.

Examples of Sexual Violence

The term “sexual violence” is a non-legal term covering a multitude of sexual acts. Below, we’ve covered some common examples of sexual violence.

Sexual Assault

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) defines sexual assault as sexual contact or behavior committed without the victim’s explicit consent. A perpetrator may use physical violence, coercion or manipulation when sexually assaulting a victim.

Sexual assault can happen to anyone. No matter how the incident takes place, it is never the victim’s fault. 

Types Of Sexual Assault

• Rape (attempted or completed)
• Unwanted touching, groping or fondling
• Forcing a victim to perform a sexual act (such as masturbation, oral or anal sex)

Common Perpetrators Of Sexual Assault

Anyone can be a perpetrator of sexual assault. Oftentimes, victims know their perpetrators.

According to RAINN, the victim knows the perpetrator in approximately 74% of reported sexual assaults. The perpetrator may be a relative, significant other, former significant other or acquaintance of the victim.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment includes any behavior of a sexual nature directed at an unwilling participant. It can be verbal, visual or physical.

Unwanted sexual advances and requests for sexual favors are also forms of sexual harassment.

Common Perpetrators Of Sexual Harassment

Anyone can be a perpetrator of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is frequently perpetrated by those in a position of power. A manager may sexually harass a subordinate. An older student may sexually harass a younger student.

Sexual harassment is most often discussed in venues such as the workplace or on school campuses. However, sexual harassment can happen anywhere by anyone.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse typically refers to sexual activity with a victim who is unable to give consent.

The term is most commonly used when referring to sexual activity committed against a minor. This is also known as child sexual abuse.

However, vulnerable adults can also be victims of sexual abuse. Adults with mental or physical disabilities as well as older adults who rely on assistance from others are vulnerable to sexual abuse.

For example, many older adults living in assisted care facilities or senior centers are victims of sexual abuse. In fact, sexual abuse is just one facet of elder abuse.

Common Perpetrators Of Sexual Abuse

Anyone can commit sexual abuse, and it is most often committed by someone the victim knows. A perpetrator can be a teacher, a religious leader such as a priest, a caregiver, a doctor or even a relative. One DOJ report found 34% of sexual assaults against minors were crimes of incest.

People may believe they can trust everyone in their lives, but child sexual abuse statistics say otherwise. Being vigilant for signs of sexual abuse can help advocates identify victims and potentially prevent further sexual abuse.

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence

According to the CDC, intimate partner sexual violence occurs when a person forces a partner “…to take part in a sex act, sexual touching, or a non-physical sexual event (e.g., sexting) when the partner does not or cannot consent.”

Intimate partner sexual violence can occur between spouses or dating partners, both current and former. It occurs in relationships of all genders and sexual orientations.

Intimate partner sexual violence is also commonly referred to as domestic violence, intimate partner rape, marital rape and spousal rape.

Sex Trafficking

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act defines sex trafficking as the “recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act.”

A perpetrator of sex trafficking uses physical force, fraud or coercion to make a victim take part in sexual acts for profit.

Common Perpetrators Of Sex Trafficking

Perpetrators of sex trafficking come from all races, creeds, ethnicities, genders and socioeconomic classes. Although some perpetrators are involved in organized crime or members of gangs, others act in smaller or less-organized groups.

Anyone could be involved in sex trafficking, regardless of their criminal history.

Sex traffickers can be business owners, family members of the victim, intimate partners of the victim, corporate executives or government officials.

Digital Abuse

In today’s technology-driven world, perpetrators of sexual violence have developed digital methods to sexually harass, intimidate and abuse victims.

Perpetrators can utilize social media, online forums, collaborative gaming sites, digital communications and dating apps to reach victims. They leverage digital content (such as photos or videos) as well as sexually explicit language against victims.

According to RAINN, some common forms of digital sexual abuse include:

• Catfishing – a perpetrator lies about his or her identity in digital communications to start a romantic or sexual relationship.
• Cyberstalking – using digital means to track a victim’s location; cyberstalking can also include repeatedly contacting a victim against their wishes via digital means.
• Digital sexual assault – distributing or threatening to distribute sexual images of a victim without their consent.
• Pressuring a victim to send sexually explicit photos or videos – using manipulation or coercion to make a victim send photos or videos of themselves.
• Sending unsolicited or unwanted sexually explicit content to a victim – this includes sexually explicit language, photos or videos sent to a victim digitally.
• Taking sexually explicit photos or videos of a victim – this happens when a person takes photos or videos of someone without his or her consent.
• Digitally sharing unsolicited or material – this includes sharing unwanted pornography or sexually explicit content with a victim.

Common Perpetrators Of Digital Abuse

Due to the nature of digital abuse, it is easy for perpetrators to remain anonymous. Anyone can be the abuser behind a screen name or digital profile.

Reporting Sexual Violence

Sexual offenses are often underreported. It is typically left to the victim to report the crimes.

Based on the nature of sexual violence, victims often feel too intimidated or ashamed to report their experiences. However, some victims may find a sense of justice, dignity or comfort by reporting their experiences and potentially preventing their abuser from targeting other victims.

Learn more about reporting child sexual abuse and sexual assault here > 

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