Sexual assault occurs anytime someone is forced into a sexual
activity or has a sexual activity forced upon them. In the past it was
referred to as "rape". To remove the culture gender orientation of this
term and to broaden its meaning, sexual assault is now used by most
legal system. It is similar to sexual abuse except that violence or the
treat of violence is involved.
Like
sexual abuse, it may involve fondling of genitals,
masturbation, oral-genital contact, digital penetration, or vaginal and
anal intercourse. It may involve contact between the mouth and the
victim's or the assaulter's private parts (genital area), or putting
body parts or objects inside the victim's body.
Most
victims are assaulted by someone they know. The perpetrators may not
necessarily use physical force but may threaten them or someone close
to them with violence.
Any way you cut it, sexual assault is a
violent crime (Greenfield, 1997). Perpetrators are looking to dominate
and/or humiliate their victims. They are not trying to find sexual
gratification. Interestingly, most perpetrators have regular sexual
partners or are married.
Affects and treatment are as discussed on the sexual abuse page.
Reference
Greenfield, L. 1997. Sex Offenses and Offenders: An Analysis of Data on Rape and Sexual Assault. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, 1997).