The Impact of Sexual Violence

Sexual violence refers to any kind of sexual activity or act that takes place without consent, including child sexual abuse, rape and sexual assault. It can also include sexual harassment and inappropriate touching that makes someone feel uncomfortable. Sexual violence can happen to anyone, at any time. No-one deserves or asks for it to happen, and it’s never the victim’s fault.

Victims and survivors may experience different physical or psychological impacts depending on their individual circumstances, age, culture and how they were treated by the perpetrator(s). Sexual violence can affect all genders, children, people who define themselves as transgender or non-binary, women with disabilities and people living in remote areas.

Physical impacts can range from scarring, cuts and bruises to internal bleeding, sexually transmitted infections and injuries to the brain, head, heart, lungs or reproductive system. The impact on a survivor’s mental health and emotional wellbeing can be just as severe, and it is important to seek medical and psychological help if you think you or somebody else has experienced sexual violence.

A survivor can have a range of emotional responses to sexual violence, from feelings of anger and anxiety, to depression and self-blame. They can struggle to trust others and have difficulty maintaining relationships. They may withdraw from activities such as work and school, avoid socializing with friends or stop engaging in their hobbies. They can become irritable or easily agitated, have trouble sleeping and have somatic symptoms (such as stomach pains) related to the parts of their body affected by sexual violence.

Survivors of sexual violence can be impacted in many ways by the behaviour and attitudes of people around them, including their family and friends. This is known as secondary victimisation. Those closest to victims can be especially difficult to deal with as they often blame the survivor for what happened and/or try to trivialise their experiences. For example, they may deny that the abuse ever took place, minimise how bad it was or tell their friend that what happened wasn’t as serious as other traumatic events they have endured.

The impact of sexual violence can be widespread and last a lifetime. It can affect not just the victim but their family, friends and community, and society as a whole. This can have a direct impact on the economy as it reduces productivity and costs the taxpayer. It can also have a ripple effect on the wider community through health issues such as stress, depression, suicidal thoughts and chronic health problems (e.g., reproductive, gastrointestinal or cardiovascular).

It is estimated that about eight out of 10 sexual assaults involve someone known to the victim, such as an intimate partner or acquaintance. There are also a number of cases of stranger or ‘random’ sexual assaults. Various factors can influence how likely it is that an assault will take place, and the level of force used. This includes cultural differences in gender roles and permitted gender behaviors, which may lead to men from sexually conservative cultures misinterpreting women’s platonic behaviors as sexual interests.