Sexual assault is an action of a sexual nature, with or without physical contact, that is done against the will (without the consent) of the victim.

Sexual assault occurs when someone crosses your boundaries and compels you into sexual activity you don’t want to do. It is an act of forcing someone to submit to another person’s will through abuse of power, use of force or restraint, or implicit or explicit threats.

It involves the use of violence, threats, or abuse of power, or else manipulation, control, or blackmail.

Most of the time, the perpetrator of sexual assault is someone the victim knows, a member of their circle.

Sexual assault can also be committed by a person in a position of authority, such as a coach, teacher, family member or other person the victim knows, romantic partner, classmate, etc.

Both girls and guys can be victims of sexual assault.

Here are some examples of sexual assault:

• Invitation to sexual touching
• Kissing of a sexual nature
• Touching
• Masturbation
• Oral-genital contact (cunnilingus, fellatio)
• Penetration
• Obscene phone calls: Calls that are sexual in nature, meant to sexually gratify the caller without the other person’s consent by using manipulation
• Exhibitionism (showing one’s genitals in public)
• Incest
• Pedophilia
• Voyeurism (watching someone who’s naked, without their consent)
• Frottage (rubbing one’s genitals against a stranger)

What’s the difference between harassment and assault?

Sexual harassment refers to repeated, unwanted words or actions of a sexual nature that hurt your dignity or integrity. Sexual harassment may make you feel uncomfortable or scared or impact your well-being: unwanted sexual suggestions, inappropriate comments about your body or your sexual identity, overly intimate questions, etc. 

Examples:

•   Making inappropriate or humiliating comments about a person’s body or sexuality
•   Cat-calling or wolf-whistling
•   Commenting on the physical and sexual attributes of a person’s body
•   Making persistent, unwanted sexual propositions
•   Insulting or following someone who does not react positively to comments
•   Suggesting sexual activities repeatedly despite being unwelcomed
•   Sending unsolicited sexual photos (e.g. of genitals) can also constitute harassment.

Sexual assault is an act that is sexual in nature, done without the other person’s consent. It doesn’t have to involve physical contact. It’s an act intended to force the other person to accept the attacker’s sexual desires through an abuse of power, the use of force or constraint, or threats.

There’s a difference between sexual harassment and sexual assault, but both can be very harmful. If it happens to you, get help from the people around you.

Ultimately, if someone commits a sexual act without your consent, it might be a kind of sexual assault. If you’re not sure, talk to your school’s sexologist or reach out to us!