Defining sexual violence and abuse
Sexual violence is a broad term that includes acts that are more generally recognized as crimes, such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, rape, femicide (murder of women), as well as many other practices such as female genital mutilation, sexual exploitation and sexual slavery/prostitution.
Sexual violence is a term that encompasses many forms of sexual violation. It includes:
- Forced oral, vaginal, and anal penetration
- Forced touching, kissing, fondling
- Forced participation in sexual acts
- Forced sexual acts involving weapons or objects
- Forced exposure to sexual conduct
- Coerced sexual behaviour
- Manipulative sexuality
- Forced exposure to sexual information
- Discrimination based on gender
- Sexual intimidation, threats and fear
Sexual violence also includes attitudes and behaviours that are generated, condoned and justified through sexism and misogyny.
Sexual assault is any unwanted act of a sexual nature that is imposed on another person. This can mean anything from unwanted touching of a sexual nature to rape.
Sexual violence is perpetrated everywhere — in homes, in communities, at workplaces, on the streets and within societal institutions — schools, prisons, churches, health facilities, social organizations and government systems, throughout the world.
Myths & Realities about Sexual Assault
1. Sexual assault happens most often by strangers.
Myth: The majority of sexual assaults are committed by people we know, including family members, friends, partners, people we work with, etc. Two-thirds of sexual assaults are committed by people we know, one-third by strangers.
2. Teenage girls face a higher chance of being sexually assaulted.
Reality: One in three women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. Teenage girls face an even higher risk — girls between 16-24 years of age, face a four times higher chance of being sexually assaulted.
3. Women sometimes ask to be raped.
Myth: No one ever asks or deserves to be raped. The person who commits the sexual assault/rape is responsible.
4. Sexual assault happens because people cannot control themselves.
Myth: Everyone has the ability to control themselves. Sexual assault is not about lust, sex or uncontrollable desire. It is a form of power and control.
5. People who experience sexual assault may suffer emotional, physical, and behavioural effects.
Reality: Sexual assault is a traumatic experience and can affect someone physically, emotionally, behaviourally, psychologically, cognitively.
6. Women have a duty to please their boyfriend sexually, even if they do not want to.
Myth: No one has a duty to please their partner. Healthy relationships include elements of equality and respect.
7. Only young attractive women are sexually assaulted.
Myth: Children to grandmothers are sexually assaulted. Sexual assault is not about lust and sex. It is a form of power and control. Often people more vulnerable are targeted for sexual assaults, such as children.
8. There are other ways besides saying “no” that show someone is not consenting to sex.
Reality: Saying “no” is a clear way to express lack of consent. However, there are other ways someone can show that they do not consent, such as the body language, pushing someone away, looking uncomfortable. Some people cannot consent (i.e. children under age of 16, if intoxicated).
9. Most sexual assaults happen in our homes.
Reality: Sixty per cent of sexual assaults happen in our homes or someone else's homes. The majority of sexual assaults happen nearby.
10. No means no.
Reality: No does mean no and needs to be taken as that.
11. Only girls/women are sexually assaulted.
Myth: Ninety per cent of sexual assaults are committed against girls/women by men. However, boys/men also experience sexual assault.
12. Date rape drugs are very common in date rape situations.
Reality: The use of date rape drugs has always been around. They are often used to make someone vulnerable to sexual assault. Today, common date rape drugs are alcohol, Rohypnol, and GHB.
13. Women who dress in provocative clothing ask to be raped.
Myth: No one asks to be raped, no matter what they wear or what they do.
14. If a woman is drunk or high, she cannot be raped.
Myth: Women can be raped when they are drunk or high. When someone is drunk or high, they do not have the ability to consent.
15. Both boys and girls can be sexually assaulted as children.
Reality: One in three girls and one in seven boys are sexually assaulted before the age of 18.
16. Some people never tell anyone about being sexually assaulted.
Reality: Some people who experience sexual assault do not tell anyone, for different reasons, such as fear of not being believed, fear of being blamed, shock, or they don't know who to tell. Sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes. Only six per cent of sexual assaults are reported to the police and only one per cent of date rapes are reported to the police.
17. People who commit sexual assault are mentally ill.
Myth: People who commit sexual assaults have a need for power and control and are often not mentally ill.
18. False accusations of sexual assault occur frequently.
Myth: Seldom do people make false accusations of sexual assault.
19. Sexual assault would decrease if women took more responsibility for their own safety.
Myth: Often women are told to make themselves safe. Safety is not the responsibility of women or victims of sexual assault. Perpetrators of sexual assault are responsible for their actions. Everyone has a responsibility to make our homes and communities safer, so that no one experiences sexual violence.
20. The majority of women in psychiatric settings report having a history of physical or sexual abuse.
Reality: A Toronto study shows that 83 per cent of female psychiatric in-patients reported a history of physical or sexual abuse.
There are many myths in our society about sexual violence that serve to blame the victim and take the responsibility off the offender. Sexual violence is never the victim/survivor's fault. The offender is always responsible for committing sexual violence.
Any individual who is disturbed by the content of these articles, and feels that they need to consult with a professional counsellor in a confidential and safe setting, is encouraged to make an appointment with one of our Fanshawe counsellors. This service is free to all full-time students. To book an appointment, drop in to the Counselling and Student Life Centre in F2010, or call 519-452-4282. Our office hours are Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. — 4:30 p.m., and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. — 4 p.m.
Alternatively, the Sexual Assault Centre London has a 24-hour Crisis and Support Line which can be reached by calling 519-438-2272.
Reprinted with permission from the Sexual Assault Centre London, www.sacl.ca
Sexual violence is a term that encompasses many forms of sexual violation. It includes:
- Forced oral, vaginal, and anal penetration
- Forced touching, kissing, fondling
- Forced participation in sexual acts
- Forced sexual acts involving weapons or objects
- Forced exposure to sexual conduct
- Coerced sexual behaviour
- Manipulative sexuality
- Forced exposure to sexual information
- Discrimination based on gender
- Sexual intimidation, threats and fear
Sexual violence also includes attitudes and behaviours that are generated, condoned and justified through sexism and misogyny.
Sexual assault is any unwanted act of a sexual nature that is imposed on another person. This can mean anything from unwanted touching of a sexual nature to rape.
Sexual violence is perpetrated everywhere — in homes, in communities, at workplaces, on the streets and within societal institutions — schools, prisons, churches, health facilities, social organizations and government systems, throughout the world.
Myths & Realities about Sexual Assault
1. Sexual assault happens most often by strangers.
Myth: The majority of sexual assaults are committed by people we know, including family members, friends, partners, people we work with, etc. Two-thirds of sexual assaults are committed by people we know, one-third by strangers.
2. Teenage girls face a higher chance of being sexually assaulted.
Reality: One in three women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. Teenage girls face an even higher risk — girls between 16-24 years of age, face a four times higher chance of being sexually assaulted.
3. Women sometimes ask to be raped.
Myth: No one ever asks or deserves to be raped. The person who commits the sexual assault/rape is responsible.
4. Sexual assault happens because people cannot control themselves.
Myth: Everyone has the ability to control themselves. Sexual assault is not about lust, sex or uncontrollable desire. It is a form of power and control.
5. People who experience sexual assault may suffer emotional, physical, and behavioural effects.
Reality: Sexual assault is a traumatic experience and can affect someone physically, emotionally, behaviourally, psychologically, cognitively.
6. Women have a duty to please their boyfriend sexually, even if they do not want to.
Myth: No one has a duty to please their partner. Healthy relationships include elements of equality and respect.
7. Only young attractive women are sexually assaulted.
Myth: Children to grandmothers are sexually assaulted. Sexual assault is not about lust and sex. It is a form of power and control. Often people more vulnerable are targeted for sexual assaults, such as children.
8. There are other ways besides saying “no” that show someone is not consenting to sex.
Reality: Saying “no” is a clear way to express lack of consent. However, there are other ways someone can show that they do not consent, such as the body language, pushing someone away, looking uncomfortable. Some people cannot consent (i.e. children under age of 16, if intoxicated).
9. Most sexual assaults happen in our homes.
Reality: Sixty per cent of sexual assaults happen in our homes or someone else's homes. The majority of sexual assaults happen nearby.
10. No means no.
Reality: No does mean no and needs to be taken as that.
11. Only girls/women are sexually assaulted.
Myth: Ninety per cent of sexual assaults are committed against girls/women by men. However, boys/men also experience sexual assault.
12. Date rape drugs are very common in date rape situations.
Reality: The use of date rape drugs has always been around. They are often used to make someone vulnerable to sexual assault. Today, common date rape drugs are alcohol, Rohypnol, and GHB.
13. Women who dress in provocative clothing ask to be raped.
Myth: No one asks to be raped, no matter what they wear or what they do.
14. If a woman is drunk or high, she cannot be raped.
Myth: Women can be raped when they are drunk or high. When someone is drunk or high, they do not have the ability to consent.
15. Both boys and girls can be sexually assaulted as children.
Reality: One in three girls and one in seven boys are sexually assaulted before the age of 18.
16. Some people never tell anyone about being sexually assaulted.
Reality: Some people who experience sexual assault do not tell anyone, for different reasons, such as fear of not being believed, fear of being blamed, shock, or they don't know who to tell. Sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes. Only six per cent of sexual assaults are reported to the police and only one per cent of date rapes are reported to the police.
17. People who commit sexual assault are mentally ill.
Myth: People who commit sexual assaults have a need for power and control and are often not mentally ill.
18. False accusations of sexual assault occur frequently.
Myth: Seldom do people make false accusations of sexual assault.
19. Sexual assault would decrease if women took more responsibility for their own safety.
Myth: Often women are told to make themselves safe. Safety is not the responsibility of women or victims of sexual assault. Perpetrators of sexual assault are responsible for their actions. Everyone has a responsibility to make our homes and communities safer, so that no one experiences sexual violence.
20. The majority of women in psychiatric settings report having a history of physical or sexual abuse.
Reality: A Toronto study shows that 83 per cent of female psychiatric in-patients reported a history of physical or sexual abuse.
There are many myths in our society about sexual violence that serve to blame the victim and take the responsibility off the offender. Sexual violence is never the victim/survivor's fault. The offender is always responsible for committing sexual violence.
Any individual who is disturbed by the content of these articles, and feels that they need to consult with a professional counsellor in a confidential and safe setting, is encouraged to make an appointment with one of our Fanshawe counsellors. This service is free to all full-time students. To book an appointment, drop in to the Counselling and Student Life Centre in F2010, or call 519-452-4282. Our office hours are Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. — 4:30 p.m., and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. — 4 p.m.
Alternatively, the Sexual Assault Centre London has a 24-hour Crisis and Support Line which can be reached by calling 519-438-2272.
Reprinted with permission from the Sexual Assault Centre London, www.sacl.ca
