Defining the Different Types of Violence
Sexual assault and rape
Sexual Assault - an umbrella term that encompasses all unwanted sexual behaviors, including rape. Under this umbrella, everything from non-consensual kissing and fondling to forced oral, anal, or vaginal sex, is an act of sexual assault.
- Rape - any sexual intercourse without a person's consent. Rape includes instances where sex is forced, and/or against a person's will, and/or occurs while a person is incapable of giving consent (i.e. alcohol or drug use). It includes forced oral, anal, or vaginal penetration, and penetration with a foreign object.
Relationship violence
Relationship Violence (Dating and Domestic Violence) - are terms that refer to a pattern of behavior that is used to gain and maintain power and control over an intimate partner. The violence can be physical, sexual, verbal/emotional, economic, or psychological. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, or injure someone.
Stalking
Stalking - a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or any other course of conduct directed at a specific person that directly or indirectly communicates a threat or places the victim in fear.
