Every year, there are approximately 321,500 victims of rape and sexual assault in the United States. Even though most victims are women, men can be victims of rape too. Yet, while hundreds of thousands of men and women are victims each year, most victims never report their abusers.
Do not allow a perpetrator to get away with this behavior. Our sex abuse attorneys can help victims of sexual assault report the abuse, file a claim, and seek justice for your trauma.
To many, sexual assault is defined as rape. However, sexual assault is a much broader term that can include penetration crimes of a body part by another body part or an object, contact with genitalia, breast, buttocks, or other intimate parts, or exposure of genitalia, breast, buttocks, or other private body parts.
Sexual assaults do not happen in any one particular way. There doesn’t need to be a weapon involved, and the victim doesn’t need to have fought back, or said “no” repeatedly for it to count as sexual assault. Most sexual aggressions don’t happen by strangers in a dark passageway. Usually, it’s someone the victim knows or even a romantic partner.
Sexual assault is any kind of sexual activity that you do not agree to, including:
Sexual assault can be sexual, physical, verbal, visual, or anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention, against their will or without their consent. Examples of this are voyeurism (when someone watches private sexual acts), exhibitionism (when someone exposes him/herself in public), incest (sexual contact between family members), and sexual harassment. It can happen in many different situations – by a stranger in an isolated place, on a date, or in the home by someone you know.
It is essential to know that either gender can be the perpetrator or the victim of sexual assault. Additionally, both heterosexual and homosexual assaults place both inside and outside of relationships.
Anyone can be a victim – no matter their gender, sexual orientation, or age. But certain groups are more likely than others to experience sexual assault in their lives. Women (especially women of color) LGBTQ+ identified people, and people with developmental disabilities are more likely to experience sexual assault throughout their lifetimes.
It’s critical to understand that sexual assault is never okay and that, no matter the circumstance, sexual assault is never the victim’s fault.
call us today at 1-800-674-9396
Sexual assault can take many forms. If someone has kissed you, has vaginal, anal, or oral sex without your consent, it is sexual aggression. No sign of physical injury or abuse is required to be considered sexual assault.
Sexual assault can also occur when:
If you are still unsure if you have experienced sexual assault, it is okay. For each victim, the context and experience is different. Your experience may not be accurately reflected in the definitions above. This does not mean you haven’t experienced sexual assault or another form of sexual violence, such as sexual harassment or human trafficking.
It is often questioned whether someone who is prostituted or involved in sex work can be the victim of sexual violence. The answer is: Yes. Everyone has the right to live a life free of sexual abuse.
Prostituted women and sex trade workers can and are victims of sexual violence. As a prostituted woman or sex trade worker, you deserve to be treated like any other victim of a violent crime. You deserve to be treated with respect and dignity in a non-judgmental and supportive environment.
Many victims question if they can be victims of sexual violence if the perpetrator is someone they are/have been in an intimate relationship with. Like any other human, you have the right to make decisions without threat of violence, manipulation, or coercion.
Regardless of any current or previous relationship to the perpetrator, you have the right to say no. If you are forced or coerced into doing something that you are not comfortable with or do not want to do, this is sexual assault.
Consent is defined as: The voluntary agreement of the victim to engage in sexual activity.
There is no consent when:
You have the right to change your mind. Even if you have consented to sexual activity, if you have expressed by words, gestures, or conduct that you do not want to continue, any sexual activity should stop.
It is critical to remember that sexual assault can happen to anyone in many situations, but it is never the victim’s fault – it is always the abuser’s fault.
We do not want you to feel as if you must remain silent about your abuse because you are “trapped.” Our sexual abuse attorneys want to help you gain justice for the severe and illegal behavior that has caused you to become a victim of sexual assault. You have options to bring about change and seek justice for your damages.
You are not alone. Our dedicated and professional team of sexual abuse attorneys at Ovadia Law Group is here to listen to your story and guide you in moving forward with your life.
If you or a loved one is a victim of rape or sexual assault, call Ovadia Law Group at 1-800-674-9396 for a discreet and confidential consultation with one of our sexual abuse attorneys. We are here to help.
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