Understanding a topic as broad and complex as sexual violence is not easy; however, we must commit to educating ourselves and others on the topic if it is something we wish to change. Oftentimes, common interpretations of terms and movements related to the topic of sexual violence are far from reality. Below, please find information on common terms and topics in relation to sexual violence.
To begin, we must understand that “sexual violence” and “gender-based violence” are overarching terms used to refer to various sex crimes. Sexual violence is a term that includes all forms of gender-based violence, including:
- Sexual Assault
- Domestic or intimate partner violence
- Stalking
As our understanding of these crimes increases, so does the list of topic-specific vocabulary used to discuss them. Below, find background and explanations on some of the terms and phrases commonly used to discuss sexual violence:
Domestic Violence Domestic violence can look different from abuser to abuser. If you feel emotionally, financially or physically abused, seek access help. According to The National Domestic Abuse Hotline, signs that your partner is abusive can include one or more of the following: According to The National Domestic Abuse Hotline, “abuse is a repetitive pattern of behaviors to maintain power and control over an intimate partner.” With so many different forms of abuse, it is sometimes difficult to understand the tactics used by abusers to keep you in the relationship. The National Domestic Abuse Hotline uses the Power & Control Wheel (shown below) to describe what happens in abusive relationships, indicating that “while the inside of the wheel is comprised of subtle, continual behaviors, the outer ring represents physical, visible violence. These are the abusive acts that are more overt and forceful, and often the intense acts that reinforce the regular use of other subtler methods of abuse.” Sexual Assault Sexual assault is a term that describes any sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim. This term can be used to describe attempted rape, unwanted sexual touching, forcing a victim to perform sexual acts and penetration of the victim’s body. Read more about sexual assault. Stalking Stalking is a type of sexual violence characterized by repeated and unwanted attention, causing a person to feel fear. The actions of the stalker can vary greatly based on each individual situation and perpetrator and can include various types of repeated and unwanted contact, threats and harassment. Many of us have heard casual comments, often intended as jokes, about stalking. We frequently hear the phrase “Facebook stalking” and hear people say “Are you stalking me?” when we coincidentally run into them. While legitimate instances of stalking can involve social media or following someone, we seldom hear people speaking about stalking in our daily lives in a serious manner. As a result of this, many people are aware that stalking occurs but don’t recognize what it is or how dangerous it can be. Additionally, individuals who share their fear that they are being stalked can often feel like people don’t believe them or like people make light of their situation and brush it off. With this is mind, it is important to examine and understand the various forms stalking can take and the extreme danger that is present in any situation involving stalking. According to the Department of Justice, stalking can include: Stalking victimization is very real and very dangerous — not something to be joked about or shrugged off. The facts listed below, gathered by researchers and the Stalking Resource Center, illustrate the seriousness of the crime: For more information about stalking, including facts about stalkers, stalking laws, the impact of stalking, and what to do if you are being stalked, visit these resources: Consent You may have heard others talking about consent and its necessity in any sexual interaction — but what exactly is consent? First, it’s important to understand that sex without consent is rape. Some have heard the phrase “no means no,” but the absence of “no” does not constitute consent. Consent can be described as a conscious, ongoing, voluntary decision without coercion or intimidation and with clearly spoken boundaries. So … what does that mean? And how do you make sure you have it? When you are engaging in sexual activity, communication is the key to consent. There are many necessary elements to consent, but fortunately there are also many resources available to help us understand consent and healthy communication in relationships. According to RAINN and Loveisrespect, positive consent can look like this: Consent does NOT look like this: For more information on consent, visit these resources: Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault Alcohol is the most frequently used substance in drug-facilitated sexual assault. Perpetrators can encourage binge drinking, pressure victims into drinking, or take advantage of someone’s incapacitation due to voluntary drinking. While it may be easy to forget its dangers because it can be legally consumed, it is important to remember that alcohol can cause extreme disorientation, nausea and memory loss, much like other drugs used to facilitate sexual assault. Commonly referred to as “date rape drugs,” perpetrators can use a variety of substances that generally cause memory loss or “blackouts,” disorientation, feeling very drunk and many extremely harmful side effects. These substances can range from street drugs such as rohypnol (“roofies”) or ecstasy to prescription drugs like muscle relaxers, anxiety medications or sleep pills. In order to understand drug-facilitated sexual assault, one must understand consent. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to learn more about consent above. Sexual Harassment Sexual Exploitation by a Helping Professional Victim or Survivor
It’s not always easy to tell if a relationship will become abusive; oftentimes, abusive partners seem caring and loving at the beginning of the relationship. As the relationship grows, emotionally and physically violent behaviors can begin to slowly emerge. Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are dating, living together or are married. Regardless of your situation, it is not your fault.