Sexual Assault

What is it?

Sexual assault is any forced, unwanted and nonconsensual sexual contact or activity including touching, kissing exhibitionism, and intercourse — anal, vaginal or oral. Sexual assault is a crime of violence, the purpose of which is to overpower, control, and/or humiliate another person. It is a crime of violence using sex as a means of assault. Sexual assault is a brutally destructive attack on the victim's sense of personal integrity and competence, as well as their basic trust in others.

Sexual assault happens to more people than is generally thought. For every case reported to police it is estimated that ten more go unreported. At some time in their lives about one in two females and one in three males are victims of one or more unwanted sexual acts. These acts include being exposed to, being sexually threatened, being touched on a sexual part of their body, attempted assault, or assault. About four in five of these unwanted sexual acts occur when the victim is a child or youth. One in four assailants is a family member or a person in a position of trust; about half are friends or acquaintances and about one in six is a stranger. While most assailants are male there are studies which reveal more females offended than previously thought; most females offend against children and youths.

Who does it happen to?

Most instances of reported sexual assault occur to women between the ages of 14 and 25; however all people are potential victims regardless of their sex, race, class, religion, occupation, or physical appearance. Seventy-five percent of sexual assaults occur at home or in a vehicle and the attacker is most likely someone the victim knows.

Effects

Victims of sexual assault experience a state that resembles acute grief because of their severe psychological losses. Their basic feelings of wholeness, strength, trust, and self-control are lost, and with them a person loses confidence in their abilities. The victim’s attempts to stop the attacker did not work — they were powerless. This feeling of powerlessness can be devastating to the victim’s sense of trust and control. Many victims are unable to talk about their experience unless they are directly asked about it.

Myths and Facts

Myths Facts

Rape is a sexual crime. Sexual assault is a violent assault acted out in a sexual way. It violates not only the victim's body, but also the integrity, safety and right to control his/her life.

Rapists are creepy looking men who hang out in dark alleys. In 75% of sexual assaults, the attacker is someone known to the victim, a friend, spouse or relative. The attackers seem normal, just like anyone else. Most are married, and of any race, class, religion, occupation or physical appearance

The rapist is a sexually unfulfilled person carried away by an uncontrollable urge. Sexual assault is a question of power, not passion, and people can control themselves.

If people stay inside after dark they are safe from rape. Seventy-five percent of sexual assaults occur at home or in a vehicle.

Rape is a rare occurrence in our society. Sexual assault has always been a problem in our society and it is getting worse. Reported assaults account for only 10% of all such crimes.

Rapists rarely repeat their crimes. Of convicted sexual assaulters, 50% repeat their crimes.

Sexual assault of males is a rare occurrence. The Badgely Royal Commission on "Sexual Offenses against Children" states that approximately one in two females and one in three males will be sexually assaulted before they are 18 years old. Males and females are both vulnerable to sexual exploitation. Since males are expected to take care of themselves, they are less likely to report sexual assault or talk about it. In ever-increasing numbers, men are coming forward to acknowledge the occurrence of recent assaults on them as adults.

Males who are sexually assaulted do not suffer to the same extent as female victims. Sexual assault is a crime of violence and all victims suffer. Male victims experience the same reaction to the crime as female victims. Some of these reactions include self-blame, fear anger, relationship problems, questions about sexuality, addictions, and trust issues. Not everyone will experience all of these nor to the same extent.

Males are only abused by homosexual men. The majority of offenders are heterosexual males; only a few are homosexual men. Females can also assault males, as young children and/or in dating relationships using coercion or threats to enforce compliance. Most offenders are known to the victim beforehand, and therefore often the victims are not expecting an attack or do not label the attack as sexual assault. Eighty percent of offenders fall into the category of acquaintances, such as friends, relatives, coworkers, classmates, etc.

Males assaulted by another male automatically are, or become, homosexuals. Again, sexual assault is not a crime of sex; it is a crime of violence. The sexual orientation of the victim is not changed by such an attack. A straight male assaulted by another male does not become homosexual any more than a gay man assaulted by a female would become heterosexual. This myth causes many male victims to avoid telling anyone for fear of being labeled gay. It is not uncommon for others, including some police and family members, to believe this and to act negatively.

Male victims of sexual assault can never be normal again. They are permanently damaged. Although sexual assault is a very traumatic experience, with help victims do recover. The important thing is that help is sought. Healing from a sexual assault is a long, sometimes painful process; dealing with it alone is very difficult. Talking to others who have had similar experiences, or with someone who is supportive, can help the victim cope with the emotional responses to the assault.

The victims secretly want to be raped. Sexual assault is often violent, terrorizing and humiliating. People do not want to be abused, hurt or humiliated. Fantasies are one thing; reality is another.

The victims "ask for it" by their dress and actions. No person asks to be hurt or degraded. Most sexual assaults are planned, and when an attacker want to assault, it makes no difference how the victim looks or how they dress.

Links

University of Alberta Sexual Assault Centre

National Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Northern Centre Against Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault Information Page

Acknowledgments

The information on this page was provided by the University of Alberta Student Helpers, who in turn received the majority of the information from the Support Network of Edmonton.

Myths	Facts
Rape is a sexual crime.	Sexual assault is a violent assault acted out in a sexual way. It violates not only the victim's body, but also the integrity, safety and right to control his/her life.
Rapists are creepy looking men who hang out in dark alleys.	In 75% of sexual assaults, the attacker is someone known to the victim, a friend, spouse or relative. The attackers seem normal, just like anyone else. Most are married, and of any race, class, religion, occupation or physical appearance
The rapist is a sexually unfulfilled person carried away by an uncontrollable urge.	Sexual assault is a question of power, not passion, and people can control themselves.
If people stay inside after dark they are safe from rape.	Seventy-five percent of sexual assaults occur at home or in a vehicle.
Rape is a rare occurrence in our society.	Sexual assault has always been a problem in our society and it is getting worse. Reported assaults account for only 10% of all such crimes.
Rapists rarely repeat their crimes.	Of convicted sexual assaulters, 50% repeat their crimes.
Sexual assault of males is a rare occurrence.	The Badgely Royal Commission on "Sexual Offenses against Children" states that approximately one in two females and one in three males will be sexually assaulted before they are 18 years old. Males and females are both vulnerable to sexual exploitation. Since males are expected to take care of themselves, they are less likely to report sexual assault or talk about it. In ever-increasing numbers, men are coming forward to acknowledge the occurrence of recent assaults on them as adults.
Males who are sexually assaulted do not suffer to the same extent as female victims.	Sexual assault is a crime of violence and all victims suffer. Male victims experience the same reaction to the crime as female victims. Some of these reactions include self-blame, fear anger, relationship problems, questions about sexuality, addictions, and trust issues. Not everyone will experience all of these nor to the same extent.
Males are only abused by homosexual men.	The majority of offenders are heterosexual males; only a few are homosexual men. Females can also assault males, as young children and/or in dating relationships using coercion or threats to enforce compliance. Most offenders are known to the victim beforehand, and therefore often the victims are not expecting an attack or do not label the attack as sexual assault. Eighty percent of offenders fall into the category of acquaintances, such as friends, relatives, coworkers, classmates, etc.
Males assaulted by another male automatically are, or become, homosexuals.	Again, sexual assault is not a crime of sex; it is a crime of violence. The sexual orientation of the victim is not changed by such an attack. A straight male assaulted by another male does not become homosexual any more than a gay man assaulted by a female would become heterosexual. This myth causes many male victims to avoid telling anyone for fear of being labeled gay. It is not uncommon for others, including some police and family members, to believe this and to act negatively.
Male victims of sexual assault can never be normal again. They are permanently damaged.	Although sexual assault is a very traumatic experience, with help victims do recover. The important thing is that help is sought. Healing from a sexual assault is a long, sometimes painful process; dealing with it alone is very difficult. Talking to others who have had similar experiences, or with someone who is supportive, can help the victim cope with the emotional responses to the assault.
The victims secretly want to be raped.	Sexual assault is often violent, terrorizing and humiliating. People do not want to be abused, hurt or humiliated. Fantasies are one thing; reality is another.
The victims "ask for it" by their dress and actions.	No person asks to be hurt or degraded. Most sexual assaults are planned, and when an attacker want to assault, it makes no difference how the victim looks or how they dress.