Sexual Assault

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).

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Sexual abuse	Sexual assault	Assault
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