Causes and Effects of Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is a complex issue that has many causes. Some factors are at the individual level such as a lack of awareness or an unwillingness to speak out, others are at the community level like the impact of cultural and religious values on how women and men are perceived and treated, and still others are at the societal level such as laws and norms.

Any time someone is forced to have sex against their will, whether it is a sexual assault or non-consensual sex, it is considered sexual violence. Force can be physical, psychological or emotional and can include manipulation, threats and intimidation. Even if the person is not physically hurt, they may be emotionally and psychologically scarred by an incident of sexual violence.

For survivors of sexual assault the initial response is often fear. They may have repeated thoughts about the event that are hard to ignore, nightmares and trouble sleeping. Some women will experience pain in the areas of their bodies where they were assaulted or have other physical symptoms such as stomach aches, headaches and soreness. In an attempt to block the memory or painful feelings, they may develop other coping mechanisms including self-injury, eating disorders and alcohol and drug use.

Sexual assaults are often committed by people known to the survivor. Almost eight out of 10 perpetrators are someone the victim knows (intimate partner, acquaintance, or family member). Sexual assault or abuse can also be committed by strangers in public places such as schools, workplaces and clubs.

In addition to personal injuries, the impacts of sexual violence on a community are profound. Communities suffer a loss of trust and safety when sexual violence occurs. There are costs to the economy as a result of medical and criminal justice expenses, crisis and mental health services, and lost productivity for survivors who must take time off work. There are also social and emotional costs to the community from a breakdown of trust and sense of safety.

Survivors of sexual violence often lose confidence in people and have difficulty determining who they can trust. They may withdraw from activities and relationships with friends, family and coworkers. They may complain of not feeling safe at home, quit sports teams or drop out of classes. Survivors of rape may have a hard time maintaining a relationship with their partners, and some develop anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.

It is important for family members, neighbors and coworkers of survivors of sexual violence to understand that a survivor’s reaction to the abuse is normal. It is equally important for them to educate themselves about the myths surrounding rape, because when loved ones believe that it is the survivor’s fault or that the assault was a “one-time thing”, they are reinforcing a culture of sexual violence and enabling the offender to continue his or her abusive behaviour. It is also important to recognize warning signs of sexual violence in teens, including being aggressive, withdrawn or clingy and using inappropriate language.