Understanding Rape and Sexual Assault
Sexual assault can occur between people of different genders (sex), or of the same gender. Even if the person was your date, boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, or someone you live with, they still need your consent. Recovering from sexual assault takes time, and how recovery happens will be different for everyone.
Sexual Assault includes:
- Being forced to watch porn when you don’t want to.
- Being touched in a sexual manner against your will, regardless of where you were touched.
- Being prevented from using a condom or other protection during sex.
- Someone putting a penis, finger or object in your vagina, mouth or anus when you didn’t want them to.
You did not Consent if you:
- Were pressured, intimidated or forced to do sexual things you didn’t want to do.
- Were incapacitated due to drugs or alcohol.
- Changed your mind about engaging in sexual activity.
Coercion in Rape and Sexual Assault
Coercion is being pressured or forced to do something sexual you did not want to do. Any sexual activity that involves coercion is sexual assault.
Some forms of coercion are:
- Use of threats (i.e., if you don’t do this, I’ll get you in trouble)
- Intimidation (with looks, gestures, or body language)
- Encouraging or forcing you to drink or do drugs
- Use of a weapon
- Underlying threat of violence if you don’t submit (if there’s been violence in the past, for example)
- Not respecting someone saying “no” or “stop”
- Making you feel like you owe the person sex