Sexual Assault

Examples of Verbal and Non-Verbal Harassment

Consent to Abuse Continuum

Sexual Abuse

Consent

Non-Verbal:

- any unwanted touch

- sexual gestures

- touching oneself in a sexual way

- offensive/sexual pictures

Verbal:

- wolf whistles or cat calls

- calling someone a sexually-

oriented name

- comments about someone's

body

- "Dirty" jokes

- Spreading sexual rumors

Pressure

Coercion

Definitions

Consent - both people want and agree to an action

Pressure - one wants to, but the other doesn't or isn't sure

Coercion - one uses emotional or physical threats to get what he or she wants

Abuse - emotional exploitation or physical attack to force a sexual act, or a sexual act with someone unable to give consent

Classify these Actions

In the following scenarios, decide where on the continuum the situation falls in.

Classify this Action

Chenele and her boyfriend, Jose, have only been dating a few weeks. He is a junior and she is a freshman. His friends are each taking a girlfriend to the beach after the last day of school and Jose wants her to go. She knows her parents will not agree unless there are parents supervising the trip. Jose tells her to lie. She is uncomfortable not being honest with her parents. The more she thinks about it, she is uncomfortable being with Jose without adult supervision.

Bill likes to date younger girls because they are naive. He thinks he can take advantage of their lack of experience. He persuades Felicity, who is 15, to drink wine coolers until she is intoxicated. He has sex with her and tells others she wanted it.

Consent --- Pressure --- Coercion --- Abuse

Classify this Action

Jack and Jill agree that they are ready to take their relationship to the "next level." They discuss the importance of protection from sexually transmitted diseases because Jill has had oral sex with someone before. They see eye to eye about what their relationship means and do not want any negative consequences to affect their future plans.

Joe and Dana have been dating for 3 months. They have talked about sex, and both agreed that they wanted to wait. On prom night, Joe tells Dana that they should have sex because it is a special night. Dana wasn't sure if she was ready, so Joe told her that he would break up with her and have sex with her best friend if she didn't have sex with him.

Consent --- Pressure --- Coercion --- Abuse

Who is at fault?

Sexual assault and abuse are ALWAYS the abuser's fault

It doesn't matter where.

It doesn't matter if the target is impaired by alcohol or drugs

What is Sexual Assault?

It doesn't matter what someone is wearing.

Any sexual act toward another person ... whether by force or not ... against a person's will or while they are not capable of giving consent.

Types of Sexual Assault

Sexual Harassment

Sexual Assault

Verbal or non-verbal unwanted sexual contact

Sexual Exploitation

Using another person without caring about how it affects them

* Unwanted or unwelcome sexual advances

* Request for sexual favors

* Verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature to criticize the targeted person or persons

Rape/Attempted Rape

Forced sex against a person's will

Sexual Abuse

Adult or older child forces, tricks, or bribes a child into sexual activity

It's Against the Law!

Abusers and Targets

Most abusers are boys or men

Sexual harassment is illegal and against school policy for students, teachers, and school staff.

Both females and males can be victims.

Harassment can result in a hostile learning environment for students.

A student who is harassed can seek retribution against perpetrators.

Most targets of abuse are girls or women, but can be boys or men

Sexual Assault