Sexual abuse

What is it?

Sexual abuse is often something that individuals find very difficult to speak about or acknowledge has happened. As with other aspects of abuse, this can occur within any familial relationship, it is any behaviour or act to which the victim has not given consent or has been unable to give consent. 

Firstly, let's clarify that consent isn't simply a yes or no answer. Consent isn't just offered verbally, it is also about your behaviour and many things can affect your ability to give consent.

Things or situations were you may not be able to offer consent include

• Being underage

• Having a disability

• Being intoxicated by drugs/alcohol

• Ill physical or mental health

• Being in a fearful situation (i.e a domestic abuse relationship)

  
  

Whether you are physically forced or coerced psychologically, it is abuse. Please remember that consent can be withdrawn at anytime.

What does it look like

• Rape which includes oral/vaginal or anal penetration with a body part or another object

• Sexual assault which includes non-penetrative acts such as kissing, touching or rubbing

• Non-contact activities such as exposing the victim to watch pornography or explicit photos/materials

• Forcing or coercing the victim to partake in explicit photos or videos (which may be sold on for revenge porn/blackmail)

• Repeated unwanted sexual propositions, degrading and humiliating remarks about a person’s sexual orientation, performance or body parts

• Forced sexual activities with others, this may be for financial gain

  
  
  
  

A perpetrator may use physical force and violence, or they may use coercion and blackmail. They may say that it is their ‘right’ as your intimate partner. They may say that if you love them then you would, or if that you aren’t wanting sexual contact with them then you are cheating. They may force you into unprotected sexual contact which can lead to unwanted pregnancies (a common tactic used within domestic abuse) or sexually transmitted infections. They may threaten to tell other people secrets about you if you don’t engage, including your sexuality (this can be common in same-sex abuse if the victim’s sexuality isn’t known by others) or sexual history. They may prohibit masturbation or if the abuse occurs within a familial relationship, they may forbid you from having sexual contact/intercourse with anyone else. Equally, the perpetrator may also withhold any form of sexual contact or intimacy by way of punishment.

Any form of sexual abuse or harassment is incredibly violating and can often leave behind immeasurable damage both physically and psychologically.