Sexual Assault
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, help is available on our free, confidential, 24- hour hotline (888) 336-9591
Sexual assault is a profound violation of a person’s body, sexuality, sense of self, and safety. It is a trauma experienced physically, emotionally and spiritually, and the ripple effects are far reaching, influencing the trajectory of a victim’s life and impacting their families, relationships, schooling, work, and communities at large.
What is Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is a blanket term that consists of a wide range of victimizations. It occurs when a person is forced, coerced, and/or manipulated into any unwanted sexual activity, whether completed or attempted.
Survivors of sexual assault can be of any age, gender, and background. While we understand that some communities are at a heightened risk of experiencing sexual violence, anyone can be a victim and everyone is affected directly, or indirectly.
Recognizing Assault
Sexual assault is “nonconsensual sexual conduct” or “nonconsensual sexual penetration.”
“Nonconsensual” means that you did not freely agree to the sexual conduct or penetration. For example, if you “agreed” to the sexual contact because you were being threatened with physical harm that would not be considered that you “freely agreed” to the contact.
Very generally speaking, sexual assault falls into to one of these categories:
- Penetration of a body part by another body part, or of a body part by an object
- Contact with genitalia, breast, buttocks, or other intimate body parts
- Exposure of genitalia, breast, buttocks, or other intimate body parts
However, it can also have a much broader definition. Sexual harassment, for instance, can include creating a hostile environment, pervasive and unwanted jokes and comments, and behavior and body language that makes an individual feel harassed and unsafe.
Nonconsensual sexual contact or activity includes, but is not limited to: touching, kissing, exhibitionism, and intercourse – anal, vaginal, or oral. Sexual assault can take the form of:
- Harassment
- Exposing/flashing
- Forcing a person to pose for sexual pictures
- Fondling
- Unwanted sexual touching
In most extreme cases, sexual assault may involve force which may include but is not limited to:
- Use or display of a weapon
- Physical battering
- Immobilization of the victim
For more information please visit:
Let’s Talk: Definitions of Terms | National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
The Effects of Sexual Assault
There are many common reactions to sexual violence. Not all survivors of sexual violence are the same, nor will any act of sexual violence affect two people in the same way. There is no wrong or right way to feel or react. As the body and mind process the devastation of sexual violence, many different emotions, behaviors, and physical responses appear and disappear and may reappear.
While each survivor is unique in their experience, many survivors are impacted in the following ways:
| · Shame | · Guilt |
| · Denial | · Minimizing |
| · Boundaries | · Trust |
| · Safety | · Isolation |
| · Amnesia | · Dissociation |
| · Anesthesia | · Physical |
| · Emotional | · Cognitive
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Other related issues that may emerge are eating disorders, physical changes, changes in sexuality, substance abuse, self-harm, thoughts of suicide, anger, and mood disorders such as depression and post-traumatic stress.
Long term reactions:
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For a more information please visit The Effects of Sexual Assault WCSAP
Resources on Other Websites
- Impact of Sexual Violence Fact Sheet from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center
- Rape Trauma Syndrome from the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center
How To Get Help - You Are Not Alone -We Are Here When You Need Us
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, help is available on our free, confidential, 24- hour hotline (888) 336-9591
You are not alone. Skagit DVSAS offers a safe, confidential, judgment-free space, for victims and survivors to share their stories and pursue healing.
Here When You Need Us:
What we can do to support you:
- Clarify the issues or concerns you face
- Understand why violence happens
- Provide support during interviews and court proceedings
- Create a plan for your safety
- Navigate through unfamiliar systems, such as the legal system
- Support you through transitions
- Explore local resources
- Explore and practice stress relieving activities and coping skills
- Learn parenting skills
- Celebrate your successes
- Help you find other community resources
…and much more.
Everyone’s situation is different and unique, and we are here to support you.
How You Can Help A Victim of Sexual Abuse
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, help is available on our free, confidential, 24- hour hotline (888) 336-9591
If you are a family member or friend of someone who has experienced a sexual assault, you can help in the following ways:
- Believe the survivor – don’t deny or ignore the sexual abuse/assault
- Don’t blame the survivor or yourself
- Assure them of your availability to provide support throughout the process of recovery
- Talk, listen, respect, be emotionally available, listen non-judgmentally; don’t force the survivor to talk
- Educate yourself
- Ask appropriate questions, but don’t demand details
- Moderate your natural tendencies to become overprotective, give the survivor time to heal
- Encourage and offer to accompany the survivor to medical and legal appointments