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PowerPointSexual Assault
- Abuse May Trigger Eating Disorders
- Amnesty International Report on Sexual Violence and Native Women
- Amesty International Sexual Assault Report, 5/07 (PDF - 3,000KB)
- Dialog on Child Sexual Assault Exams
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center
- Sexual Assualt Protocols
- Sexual Assault Surveillance
Sexual Abuse
All couples argue and fight at one time or another. We all say mean things that hurt each other at times. When these things are done to gain control over the partner, it is abuse.
Abuse is intended to force the victim to do something the abuser wants, without
any
concern for her rights as a human being.
Sexual Abuse is most often thought of as rape or forced sexual acts. Sexual Abuse can however include a wide range of behaviors. It may include forced undressing, watching of or participating in sexual acts. Such abusive behavior may include coercion or forced participation of sexual acts that go against the victim’s beliefs or comfort level. Forced or coerced sex when in danger, sick or after beatings are also forms of sexual abuse.
Sexual abuse might also include anti-woman or demeaning jokes or name-calling (frigid, whore etc.) intended to degrade the victim. A woman might be treated as a sexual object and be made to dress in a sexual manner with which she is not comfortable. There may be jealous accusations regarding sex or the abuser may minimize his partner’s feelings about sex.
In the U. S. it has only been within the last 30 years that rape within a marriage has become a crime and recognized as rape. Regardless of marital status individual’s body is theirs to make decisions about. Sexual abuse even in the confines of a dating, engaged or marriage relationship is still damaging and it is still a crime.
Why Does This Happen?
Abusive relationships are based on the mistaken belief that one person has the right to control another.
When the non violent methods of control fail to work, the person in power moves on to actual physical and sexual violence. The relationship is based on the exercise of power to gain and maintain control.
Domestic Violence is not:
- genetically inherited
- caused by illness
- caused by alcohol or drugs
- the result of stress or anger
- due to “a bad temper”
- due to the behavior of the victim, children or a problem in the relationship
Domestic Violence is:
- a learned behavior
- Batterers learn from observations of other people, including family and friends
Violent and coercive tactics are used because they often work and the batterer too often is not held responsible by society, the legal system and family.
What is Domestic Violence?
Many women do not identify themselves as battered. They may think their situation is normal and that all men beat their partners. Family members may tell them that violence is a part of the marriage vows. The woman may be made to believe that she is an unfit wife by her partner, even her family, and that she is deserving of abuse.
All couples argue and fight at one time or another. We all say mean things that hurt each other at times. When these things are done to gain control over the partner, it is abuse.
Abuse is intended to force the victim to do something the abuser wants, without
any
concern for her rights as a human being.
Physical abuse: This includes acts in which physical force is used to coerce the victim. This might include pushing, shoving, or being held against her will; slapped, kicked, bit, choked or punched. He may throw objects, locked her out or the house, abandon her in a dangerous place or force her into a dangerous situation. There may be threats or use of weapons and rape.
Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse is most often thought of as rape or forced sexual actions. It can also include forced undressing or watching of sexual acts. Forced sex when in danger, sick or after a beating are also forms of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse might also include anti-woman or demeaning jokes or name-calling (frigid, whore) intended to degrade the victim. A woman might be treated as a sexual object and be made to dress in a sexual manner with which she is not comfortable. There may be jealous accusations regarding sex or the abuser may minimize his partner’s feelings about sex.
Emotional/ Mental Abuse: In emotional or mental abuse the victim’s feelings may be ignored and minimized while excessive attention is demanded to the abusers needs. He may ridicule the victim or women as a group with the intent to degrade her. He may also ridicule her beliefs, values, religion, class, heritage or race. As punishment there may be withholding of approval or name calling. He may isolate her by driving away friends and /or family. She may be kept from working or be forced to work. He may demand complete control of money and refuse to share the workload. He may threaten to take the children or abuse her pets. Manipulation with lies and contradictions is abusive behavior, as are threats of violence, suicide, and homicide.
