National Sexual violence Resource Center - Info & Stats for Journalists What is Sexual violence? Sexual violence occurs when someone is forced or manipulated into unwanted sexual activity without their consent. Reasons someone might not consent include fear, age, illness, disability, and/or influence of alcohol or other drugs. Anyone can experience sexual violence, including children, teens, adults, and elders. Those who sexually abuse can be acquaintances, family, trusted individuals or strangers, and of these, the first three categories are most common. Forms of sexual violence Sexual violence is a broad term and includes rape, incest, child sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, unwanted sexual contact, sexual harassment, exposure, and voyeurism. Sexual violence is a social justice issue that occurs because of abuse, misuse, and exploitation of vulnerabilities. It is a violation of human rights and can impact a person’s trust and feeling of safety. Acts of sexual violence are not only about control and/or sex, but the rape culture exists, in part, because of disparities in power that are often rooted in oppression. Sexual violence happens to people of all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, religions, abilities, professions, incomes, and ethnicities. These violations are widespread and occur daily in our communities, schools, and workplaces. Impact on survivors Each survivor reacts to sexual violence in her/his own unique way. Some may tell others right away what happened, many will wait weeks, months, or even years before discussing the assault, if they ever choose to do so. It is important to respect each person’s choices and style of coping with this traumatic event. Whether an assault was completed or attempted, and regardless of whether it happened recently or many years ago, it may impact daily functioning. Impact of sexual violence Impact on individuals: Sexual violence can affect parents, friends, partners, children, spouses, and/ or coworkers of the survivor. In order to best assist the survivor, it is important for those close to them to get support. Local social service providers offer free, confidential services to those affected by sexual violence. Impact on communities: Schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, campuses, and cultural or religious communities may feel fear, anger, or disbelief when a sexual assault happens. Additionally, there are financial costs to communities. These costs include medical services, criminal justice expenses, crisis and mental health service fees, and the lost contributions of individuals affected by sexual violence. Victim reactions Victims may experience a wide range of reactions including: • Nightmares • Flashbacks • Depression • Difficulty concentrating • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • Anxiety or phobias • Eating disorders • Substance use or abuse • Low self esteem • Guilt, embarrassment, self blame • Anger or sadness • Fear, distrust • Vulnerability Facts about sexual violence • People who sexually assault usually violate someone they know — a friend, date, classmate, neighbor, coworker, or relative. • Victims are never at fault for a sexual assault. Often, the media may unintentionally imply a victim is to blame by mentioning, for example, what the victim was wearing, whether the victim was drinking; these comments lead to victim-blaming. • People who sexually assault often use coercion, manipulation or “charm.” In some cases, they may use force, threats, or injury. An absence of physical injuries to the victim does not indicate the victim consented. • Societal conditions that allow sexual violence to continue include tolerance of sexual harassment and street harassment, restrictive ideas about masculinity, believing that women should be responsible for keeping themselves safe, comments that joke about rape, consumption of violent pornography, the belief that alcohol will make sexual encounters better or women more willing to have sex, viewing the use of commercial sex (stripping, pornography, prostitution/escort services) as normal male activities and beliefs that certain groups are better than others (sexism, racism, heterosexism, ableism, etc.) Ways to prevent sexual violence Primary prevention approaches acknowledge that sexual violence is preventable, and this approach seeks to change cultural norms by teaching people to not violate others. Risk-reduction approaches seek to decrease a particular person’s risk for victimization, such as a self- defense class. Some primary prevention approaches: • Be a role model for respectful relationships/behaviors • Speak up when hearing harmful comments or witnessing acts of disrespect or violence • Create policies at workplaces, agencies, and schools • Coordinate community prevention efforts • Talk with legislators and ask them to support prevention and victim services References National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2010). The impact of sexual violence: Fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/Publications_ NSVRC_Factsheet_Impact-of-sexual-violence_0.pdf National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2010). What is sexual violence: Fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/Publications_ NSVRC_Factsheet_What-is-sexual-violence_1.pdf © National Sexual Violence Resource Center 2012. All rights reserved.