Impacts of Sexual Violence

Sexual violence can take many forms and can have a number of impacts on survivors. Impacts can be physical, emotional, psychological or financial and can occur both immediately after an assault and over the long term if trauma is not treated. Survivors may struggle to trust others and have difficulty forming relationships. They can also experience a range of symptoms and feelings such as fear, anger, anxiety, guilt or depression.

There is no excuse or justification for sexual violence and abuse. It can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, location or situation. It can be perpetrated by a family member, a friend or a stranger and can be committed by both men and women. It can involve drugs or alcohol and it can be committed in public as well as private settings.

Some people are more at risk of experiencing sexual assault or abuse than others. This can include those who are assigned male at birth, transgender individuals and people with physical or mental disabilities. It can also be impacted by social and economic factors such as being poor, living in a rural area, having an unplanned pregnancy or being a victim of trafficking. It can also be a consequence of harmful practices such as child marriage, which leads to girls being pulled out of school to marry or help their families earn an income. This can lead to domestic and/or sexual abuse, and other forms of exploitation.

Many cases of sexual assault and abuse are never reported to police. This means that the true scope of the problem is unknown. It can be compared to an iceberg where the visible tip represents those cases that are reported and the rest is hidden below the surface. Some of the other hidden instances may be reflected in data from healthcare providers, survey research and nongovernmental organisations.

Perpetrators of sexual violence are not always aware that their actions are harmful and they may believe they are justified in their behaviour. This is often based on harmful conventional masculine norms. While some women and nonbinary people can tap into these harmful patterns of behaviour, it is more common for men to do so. When a man feels that their masculinity is under threat it can trigger a crisis of identity, leading to an inflated sense of power and the potential for controlling and abusive behaviour.

Everyone has the ability to play a role in helping to prevent sexual assault and abuse from occurring. This is known as bystander intervention. Bystanders are people who are present when an attack or threatening behaviour occurs and choose to help. This can be as simple as giving someone a safe ride home or directly confronting someone if they see them engaging in threatening behaviour. However, it is important to note that the most effective prevention strategies involve a comprehensive approach and changing societal attitudes and beliefs about sexual violence. This can be difficult, particularly as there are no quick fixes or one-time education programs that have been shown to be effective.