About Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is an act of sexual violence and aggression which occurs when a person is forced, threatened, or coerced into sexual contact without his/her consent. Sexual assault is committed primarily out of anger and/or a need to feel powerful by controlling, dominating, or humiliating the victim.

Examples of sexual assault include: rape, sodomy, fondling, indecent exposure, peeping Toms, obscene phone calls, childhood sexual abuse, and sexual harassment.

Some facts about sexual assault:
*People of any age can be victims of a sexual assault.
*Sexual assault happens to women, men, and children.
*Approximately 80% of all sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows, such as a friend, spouse, family member, date, coworker, or neighbor.
*One in four females, and one in six males, will be sexually assaulted before age 18.

Survivors of sexual assault may experience a variety of after-effects in unique and individual ways.

A survivor may feel:
*Loss of control of her/his life.
*Anger
*Fear
*Distrust
*Anxiety
*Depression
*Guilt and self-blame – feeling responsible for the assault
*Some survivors find it hard to concentrate, have difficulty sleeping, and may experience mood swings and changed eating patterns.