Understanding Sexual Assault

Hi, people!

I know these days, talks about sex are common and most people know about red and green lights. However, I feel there is a need to understand what sexual violence is and how it manifests. ?

Sexual violence is any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, or other act directed against a person's sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting. Some people don't recognize a sexual assault as such until someone else points it out to them. Sometimes when people experience sexual assault they go over the incident in their head again and again, trying to make sense of what happened.

Anyone can experience sexual violence, including children, teens, adults, and elders - but girls and women face a higher risk of being subjected to it. ?

The perpetrators of sexual violence can be acquaintances, friends, family members, people in authority like teachers, religious leaders and employers, or strangers. ?

What are the Forms of Sexual Violence? ?

- Rape or sexual assault is when forces another to have sex when they are unwilling to using violence or threatening behaviour.

- Cat calling - is a form of sexual harassment, can vary from making kissing noises, whistling, making sexist and/or degrading comments or beeping a car horn at someone.

- Intimate partner sexual assault - occurs between intimate partners who are married, living together, or dating where abusers maintain power and control over their intimate partners through fear and intimidation.

- Unwanted physical or sexual contact - Any touching that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient is sexual violence.

- Sexual harassment - making of unwelcome and inappropriate sexual remarks or physical advances in a workplace or other professional or social situation.

- Sexual exploitation - Actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, power, or trust, for sexual purposes.

- Showing one's genitals or naked body to others without consent.

- Watching someone in a private act without their knowledge or permission.

?Effects of Sexual Violence

?- Trauma - when we experience very stressful, frightening or distressing events that are difficult to cope with or out of our control.

- Destroyed confidence and trust

- Diseases

- Pregnancy

Sexual violence affects women, men, and children throughout their lives and can be devastating for individuals, families, and communities. However, help is available.

The first thing to do when you feel like you have been a victim of sexual violence is to reach out to someone you trust like a friend, relative or health practitioner, or the police for support.

Please take care of and protect each other from sexual violence.

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