How Sexual Violence Affects People

Sexual violence is a crime that can happen to anyone. It can be sexual assault, rape or other forms of abuse such as stalking or bullying. Sexual violence is a serious and widespread problem that affects people from all walks of life, including children, men, women and transgender people. It can occur in different contexts, such as at home, at school, on the street or in a bar. Sexual violence can impact a person physically, emotionally and mentally. It can also have long-lasting effects on the survivor and their families.

Sexual assault and abuse is never the victim’s fault. It is a crime and the perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions. Many victims feel shame and guilt because they did not fight back or say “no”. The ICRC believes that everyone can play a role in the prevention of sexual violence, from promoting safe relationships and behaviors, to advocating for safe environments and thoughtful policies.

Many of the victims of sexual violence know their attackers, or at least have a general idea. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, about 38% of rape incidents are committed by someone who is familiar to the victim. This may be because a perpetrator knows the victim, is a family member or friend or is part of their community. This can make a victim more fearful to come forward, as they may worry about their safety or the reaction of their community.

Survivors of sexual violence can experience a range of emotions, from calmness to hysteria or laughter to anger and shock. Each survivor copes with the trauma of sexual violence in their own way and each victim can respond differently depending on the situation, their age and culture. For example, survivors in socio-centric cultures tend to have a stronger sense of social connection which can contribute to feelings of shame while survivors in ego-centric cultures can have a greater focus on self-reliance and individualism that can lead to feelings of guilt.

In addition to the emotional consequences of sexual violence, survivors can have physical symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, stomach aches and weight changes, fatigue and trouble sleeping. For some victims, there is dissociation that can be triggered by memories of the assault. This can include thoughts like “floating up out of my body” or looking over their own shoulder as they are going through a difficult time.

Sexual violence impacts all communities, but it is most prevalent in young women, adolescents and marginalized groups, such as indigenous people, people living with disabilities or mental illness, people from poorer areas, and those that are LGBTQ+. These communities are often targeted by perpetrators who have a distorted view of power and do not believe that they should be treated equally. Perpetrators of sexual assault can come from any educational, occupational or racial background and are ordinary people. They use violence, coercion and humiliation to assert their dominance over others and inflict pain and suffering.