Sexual Violence

S2S Definition

All non consensual acts related to sex and sexuality.

Dictionary Definitions

There is no dictionary definition for sexual violence, which we believe is problematic. Without the terminology to talk about something, it is hard for people to identify their experience as sexual violence.

A Deeper Look

Sexual violence is a broad term that includes many different types of violence.
It includes physical violence such as rape, sexual abuse, and sexual assault.
It also encompases verbal abuse and harassment such as cat calling, emotional manipulation, and verbal humiliation.
Sexual violence doesn’t have to happen in person. Sexual violence can take place over technology, where it often includes unwanted pictures and messages.
Survivors sometimes have trouble deciding whether their experiences count as sexual violence. We encourage you to look at our definitions and decide for yourself how to define your experiences. If you think it was sexual violence, trust your judgment.