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what is sexual assault?

Sexual assault is forced, manipulated, or coerced sexual activity. It is a crime in which the assailant uses sex to inflict humiliation on the victim, to exert power and control over the victim, or to use the victim to attain sexual gratification without regard for the victim’s consent.
  • Sexual violence can include child sexual abuse, rape, attempted rape, incest, exhibitionism, voyeurism, obscene phone calls, fondling and sexual harassment.
  • While sexual assault can take many different forms, the loss of power and control that a victim experiences is a common thread.
  • The victim of sexual assault can be any age, race, gender identity, or social background, as can the perpetrator.
  • In more than half of all reported rapes, the victim and rapist know each other.

Effects of Sexual Assault

  • Physical effects of sexual assault may include:
    • Pain
    • Injuries
    • Nausea
    • Vomiting
    • Headaches
    • Exposure to sexually transmitted diseases
    • Pregnancy
    • Emotional Effects
  • Emotional effects of sexual assault may include:
    • Shock/denial
    • Irritability/anger
    • Depression
    • Social withdrawal
    • Numbing/apathy (detachment, loss of caring)
    • Nightmares/flashbacks
    • Difficulty concentrating
    • Diminished interest in activities or sex
    • Loss of self-esteem
    • Loss of security/loss of trust in others
    • Guilt/shame/embarrassment
    • Impaired memory
    • Suicidal ideation (thoughts of suicide and death)
    • Substance Abuse
  • Physiological effects of sexual assault may include:
    • Hypervigilance (always being "on your guard")
    • Insomnia
    • Exaggerated startle response (jumpiness)
    • Panic attacks
    • Eating problems/disorders
    • Self-mutilation (cutting, burning or otherwise hurting oneself)
    • Sexual dysfunction (not being able to perform sexual acts
    • Hyperarousal (exaggerated feelings/responses to stimuli)

sexual assault medical forensic exam

After a sexual assault has occurred, seeking medical attention is one of the options that a survivor has. A sexual assault medical forensic exam is a resource for all survivors. There are many misconceptions around going to the hospital after an assault has occurred, but ultimately going to the hospital is about your health and safety.

unique challenges facing victims

LGBTQ+ Victims:​
While many aspects of LGBTQ+ sexual assault are similar to those experienced by heterosexual victims, it is not in all ways identical.  Perpetrators often attempt highly specific forms of abuse based on identity and community dynamics, including:
  • "Outing" or threatening to out a partner's sexual orientation or gender identity to family, friends, employers, or in other situations where this may pose a threat.
  • Telling the survivor that abusive behavior is a normal part of LGBT relationships, or that it cannot be domestic violence because it is occurring between LGBT individuals.  
  • Portraying the violence as mutual and even consensual, especially if the partner attempts to defend themselves from the abuse.
  • Categorizing the abuse as an expression of masculinity or some other "desirable" trait.
  • Interfering with hormones their partner is taking to transition, or forcing their partner to transition.​​
Intimate Partner Sexual Violence:​
  • Longer-lasting trauma: There is a common notion that intimate partner sexual assault is less traumatic to the victim than stranger sexual assault. In fact, research shows the trauma can be longer lasting.
  • Higher levels of physical injury.
  • Multiple Assaults: Survivors of intimate partner sexual assault suffer the highest frequency of multiple sexual assaults.
  • Higher levels of anal and oral rape: Partner perpetrators commonly use these forms of assault to humiliate, punish and take ‘full’ ownership of their partners.
  • Advice to “put up with” sexual assault: A marital rape victim is often told that it is her duty to submit to her husband and that she should be grateful the rapist is a good father.
  • Financial dependency on the rapist.
  • Safety Issues: The intimate partner sexual assault survivor may need help obtaining a place of refuge, assistance obtaining a restraining order and assistance with legal/custody matters.
  • Difficulty defining the act/s as sexual assault: Women are socialized to see rape as involving non-consensual sex between two strangers. There may be reluctance for a victim to define a partner whom she loves as a “rapist.” (McOrmond-Plummer, 2008).
Victims with Disabilities:​
Statistically, individuals with disabilities are just as likely to experience domestic violence, however it often lasts for longer periods of time
  • Research has shown that individuals with disabilities are at an increased risk for experiencing violence in residential settings, including group homes, hospitals and other residential programs.
  • Individuals with disabilities have reported limited access to safety and support services or opportunities to report the assault, so they are at higher risk for re-victimization
Male Victims:​
When sexual assault occurs it is devastating to the victim regardless of gender. Men are entitled to the same services and support following a sexual assault. Whether or not a victim chooses to report or prosecute a sexual assault his local crisis center can provide referrals for counselors and/or support groups that can help victims deal with their experiences.
  • Male victims may face unique hurdles to reporting the crime and to getting the medical assistance and emotional support they need and deserve. Male sexual assault survivors may believe that the police, medical professionals, and even sexual assault support center advocates will be insensitive to their experience because they are men.
  • Survivors of sexual assault often blame themselves for the attack (s). Men, in particular may feel that they should have been strong enough to defend themselves against the assault. They may feel that a “real man” could have avoided the sexual assault.
  • Male rape victims suffer a similar fear that female rape victims face -- that people will believe the myth that they may have enjoyed being raped. Some men may believe they were not raped or that they gave consent because they became sexually aroused, had an erection, or ejaculated during the sexual assault. These are normal, involuntary physiological reactions. It does not mean that the victim wanted to be raped or sexually assaulted, or that the survivor enjoyed the traumatic experience. Sexual arousal does not necessarily mean there was consent.
Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault:​
Some rapists use drugs to disable their intended victim. For more information about the warning signs of drug facilitated sexual assault, please click here.