Sexual Assault Awareness Month: What is Sexual Violence?

[MeLisa Turcott Strongheart]

Since this is sexual assault awareness month, I want to spend some time on education here on our online-dojang. 

Let's start with a baseline definition:

Sexual violence means that someone forces or manipulates someone else into unwanted sexual activity without their consent.   Reasons someone might not consent include fear, age, illness, disability, and/or influence of alcohol or other drugs.  Consent can be initially given and later withdrawn.

Sexual violence is a crime that comes in many forms, including forced intercourse, sexual contact or touching, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, and exposure or voyeurism.

Keep in mind that sexual violence is never the victim's fault.  Regardless of what she or he is wearing, doing, or if either person was drinking, or if there is a relationship between both people.  Sex without consent is rape.

(National Sexual Violence Resource Center 2012)

For more info contact me at [phone], or email me at [e-mail];  find more info also at :http://www.nsvrc.org