If you have been sexually assaulted call the national hotline 1-800-656-4673 to get needed information

Sexual abuse is unwanted and abusive sexual behavior. It is often perpetrated using force or abuse which takes advantage of another person. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser, predator, or molester. Sexual assault involves unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators often using force, making threats, or taking advantage of victims not being able to give consent. Immediate reactions to sexual assault may include shock, fear, disbelief, or dissociation. Long-term symptoms may include anxiety, fear, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Sexual harassment involves conduct of a sexual nature that is unwelcome or considered offensive, particularly in the workplace.

Childhood Sexual Abuse

The use of a child, or young adult, for sexual stimulation is referred to as child sexual abuse or statutory rape. Molestation often refers to an instance of sexual assault against a small child by an adult or older adolescent. The abuse includes direct sexual contact, engaging in indecent exposure to a child with intent to gratify sexual desires, intimidate/groom the child, asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities, displaying pornography to a child, or using a child to produce child pornography.

Effects of child sexual abuse include shame, self-blame, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), self-esteem issues, sexual dysfunction, addiction, self-injury, suicidal ideation, and propensity to re-victimization in adulthood. Much of the harm caused to victims doesn’t become apparent until years after the abuse happens. Sexual abuse by a family member is a form of incest, which can also result in severe long-term psychological trauma, especially in the case of parental incest.

Rape

Outside of law, the term rape is often used interchangeably with sexual assault. Although closely related, the two terms are technically distinct. Rape is sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without that person's consent

Female victims are much more likely to be assaulted by an acquaintance rather than by a complete stranger. Male victims of rape typically sustain more physical trauma and more likely to have been a victim of multiple assaults. In the U.S., rape is a crime committed primarily against youth. A national survey stated that 18% of women had experienced a completed or attempted rape at some time in their lives. The removal of a condom during intercourse without the consent of the sex partner, known as stealthing, may be treated as a sexual assault or rape in some cases.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature. It may also be defined as the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors (quid pro quo). Sexual harassment includes a wide range of behaviors from seemingly mild transgressions to serious forms of abuse. Some forms of sexual harassment overlap with sexual assault.

In the United States, sexual harassment is a form of discrimination which violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): "Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment."

In the United States, 79% of sexual harassment victims are women and 21% are men. Of those sexually harassed, 51% are harassed by a supervisor or authority role. The industries with the most sexual harassment include trade, banking, and finance.

Recommendations

Assessments recommended: DES: Dissociation Experience Scale, ACE: Adverse Childhood Experiences, Sociotropy Autonomy Scale, BDI II: Becks Depression Inventory II,

Counselors recommended: Sarah Merritt, Eliana Valentin, & Carrie Eggart