Understanding the Common Reactions to Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is any type of unwanted sexual activity that occurs without consent. It can include rape, assault, harassment, stalking and other types of sexual abuse or trauma. Sexual violence affects people from all backgrounds, identities and circumstances, but some groups of people are at greater risk for experiencing sexual violence. These groups include women, young people, Indigenous people, people living with disabilities and LGBTIQ+ people. These groups often face additional barriers and discrimination which can put them at increased risk for experiences of sexual violence.

There are many common reactions to sexual violence, but no two survivors will experience the same responses. For this reason, it is important that people who work with or support survivors of sexual assault understand the wide range of reactions. It is also important that people who have experienced sexual violence understand their own reactions so they can better support and advocate for others.

When a person is sexually assaulted, it can have an immediate and lasting impact on their physical, mental, emotional and social health. Sexual violence can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. It can also cause problems such as sexual dysfunction, difficulty forming relationships, low self-esteem, body image issues and sexually transmitted infections. Survivors may find it hard to trust or maintain relationships and may develop a range of coping strategies such as drugs, alcohol and self-harm.

Survivors may have trouble recalling parts of the attack or remembering it in detail, and they might feel confused about what happened. They might also have a hard time believing that what happened was wrong and that they didn’t do anything to deserve it. They might think that they were somehow responsible for the assault. It is important to remind people that sexual violence is never a victim’s fault and that they did nothing to deserve it.

Some people believe that if a survivor did not fight back or say no to an attacker, they must have enjoyed it. This is untrue and shows that gender-based stereotypes contribute to the occurrence of sexual violence. Especially in patriarchal cultures, men are viewed as aggressive and women as passive and any resistance from the victim is seen as an insult to their manhood, which can trigger aggression.

The underlying message of sexual violence is power, domination and control. Coercion, for example, can include all kinds of manipulation and intimidation such as denying access to contraception or protection against sexually transmitted diseases. It can also involve threats and blackmail.

Sexual violence and sex crimes are rarely committed in isolation and they often form part of a wider pattern of abuse, including domestic violence, child recruitment, torture and terrorism. They can be used systematically against populations as a form of war and can be used to destabilise societies. This makes it a serious human rights issue that should be taken seriously.