Written by: Mary Nichole Campbell, LPC-Associate
For the month of April, we are dedicating our efforts to recognize Sexual Assault
Awareness Month. This time gives us an opportunity to foster understanding,
build support, and take action against sexual violence. As we confront the
unsettling reality that sexual violence is so prevalent in our society, we must
begin by understanding what it is and the complexities that lie beneath.
What is sexual violence?
Sexual violence encompasses any sexual act that is unwanted or non-
consensual in nature. While most of us associate sexual violence primarily with
rape, this type of violence can occur on a spectrum, with other forms that are
equally damaging, yet less readily recognizable.
o Completed or attempted rape
o Child sexual assault
o Intimate Partner Violence
o Unwanted sexual contact
o Sexual harassment
o Sexual exploitation
o Human trafficking
o Exposing one’s genitals to another without consent.
o Masturbating in public
o Voyeurism, or secretly watching another person engage in private acts
without their knowledge or permission.
o Sharing sexually explicit images without consent
How prevalent is sexual violence?
o An American is sexually assaulted approximately every minute.
o A child is sexually assaulted approximately every 9 minutes.
o Approximately half of women and 1 in 3 men have been victims of sexual
violence involving physical contact.
o 1 in 4 women and about 1 in 26 men have experienced completed or
attempted rape.
o 1 in 3 women and about 1 in 9 men experienced sexual harassment.
o Sexual violence is experienced most frequently by women and racial and
ethnic minority groups.
The scope of sexual violence is pervasive and alarming. Regardless of what form it
takes or where it occurs, the connection across all these instances is the absence of
consent. It is essential to understand that these statistics fail capture the true extent of
sexual violence in our world. Many incidents remain unreported due to a range of
obstacles, including fear of retaliation, societal stigma, lack of trust in the justice system,
or feelings of guilt and shame. However, by acknowledging the realities of the issue, we
can work towards building a safer and more supportive community. As we open our
eyes and work to eliminate stigma, the hope is survivors begin to feel supported and
empowered to speak out against sexual violence.
This month, I will be shining a light on issues of consent, discussing the physical and
psychological impact of sexual violence, and providing information on how to seek help
if you or a loved one have been impacted by sexual violence. Be sure to visit our site
each week in April to stay up to date with our ongoing conversation. Your comments
and contributions are not only welcomed but encouraged! Please feel free to share your
thoughts and insights in the comments section below. Through collaboration and an
open dialogue, we can work towards replacing stigma with empowerment.
Sources:
Fayaz, I. (2024). Factors Associated with Growth in Sexual Violence Survivors: A
Systematic Scoping Review. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 50(1), 63–75.
, E. J., & Hatzenbuehler, M. L. (2023). Sexual Violence-Related Stigma, Mental
Health, and Treatment-Seeking: A Multimodal Assessment in a Population-Based Study
of Young Adults. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(19-20), 11243-11271.