Teens - Date/Acquaintance Rape
Q & A on Sexual Violence
What is Sexual Violence?
Sexual violence is a term used to encompass all violent acts that are sexual in nature.
What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual assault occurs when a person is exposed to sexual acts without their consent. It includes forced behavior such as unwanted exposure of sexual organs, kissing, fondling, and sexual intercourse. Sexual assault is not about sex, it is a way for the offender to gain a sense of power and control. Most offenders use manipulation and coercion in which physical force, a verbal threat, intimidation and/or blaming the victim is used to force sexual acts. In North Carolina criminal sex offenses include acts of non-consenting vaginal intercourse, anal sex, oral sex, and sexual touching with objects. ANYONE and everyone can become a victim of sexual assault regardless of gender, race, age, or economic status. There are numerous forms of sexual assault, the most common occurs when a person known to the victim-a friend, co-worker, partner, or family member-forces unwanted sexual acts. Current research trends show rape in marriage to be the most common completed rape often involving multiple occurrences. Adolescents and college students are most at risk for attempted rape.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment is any deliberate or repeated sexual behavior that is unwelcome to its recipient, as well as other sex-related behaviors that are hostile, offensive, or degrading.
What is Rape?
Rape is an act of power and control that uses force or the threat of injury to engage another person in intercourse without the individual’s willful consent.
What is Date (Acquaintance) Rape?
When someone you know uses force, threats, or intimidation to get you to have sex. The person might use drugs such as alcohol, GHB, Ketamine, and Rohypnol to render his or her date unconscious or to a state in which the individual is incapable of making a decision.
What is Incest?
Incest is any sexual contact between a child or adolescent and a person who is closely related or perceived to be related, including step-parents and live-in partners of parents. The person initiating contact is usually a parent or step-parent, most often male. Incest perpetrators also include siblings, cousins, mothers, uncles, aunts, or grandparents. The activity may happen once or many times over a period of years. Such activity is illegal.
What is the Harm of Sexual Violence?
Sexual violence is a crime that often leaves the sexual assault victims feeling physically and mentally violated. Reactions range from shock and denial to panic and confusion. Survivors may experience feelings of fear, anger, grief, guilt, shame, and loss of control. Some survivors may also feel helpless, depressed, and possibly even suicidal. While survivors commonly experience these feelings, each person will have a unique response to the assault. Sexual Violence is about power and control over another human being. It is disrespect. It takes away an individuals decision to do what (s)he feels is right for her/himself.
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
PTSD is a debilitating health condition that does not allow an individual to move pass a traumatic event that has occurred in his or her life and progress in recovery, returning to a more normal life. When someone faces a life-threatening or traumatic situation (s)he may have difficulties overcoming the effects associated with the event. Individuals suffering from PTSD may re-live the event in the form of nightmares or intrusive thoughts and images that pop into their head. They may suffer from chills, uncontrollable shaking and panic attacks when something triggers a memory, smell, or other sensation related to the traumatic event. PTSD is treatable through counseling.
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