Understanding the Causes and Impact of Sexual Violence in Canada

Sexual violence is any kind of unwanted sexual contact or physical attack. It can take many forms and affect people of all ages, races, sexual orientations, and gender identities. Sexual violence is very common—it can happen to anyone at any time. In Canada, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 3 men have experienced non-partner sexual violence. It can include everything from sex discrimination and sexual harassment to rape, aggravated assault, and sexually transmitted infections. It can be perpetrated by strangers or people known to the victim or survivor. The impact of sexual violence can be emotional, physical, and psychological. Victims and survivors can experience feelings of fear, anger, shame, anxiety, self-blame, and guilt. They may struggle to form and maintain relationships. They can also experience financial impacts due to medical expenses and time off work.

A victim or survivor of sexual violence can feel a sense of betrayal when the person who committed the act is someone they know, for example their friend, partner, parent, sibling, coworker, or former child care provider. This can add to the trauma and feelings of betrayal that victims already have and can contribute to post-traumatic stress disorder.

The causes of sexual violence are complex and include a range of individual, interpersonal, environmental, and societal factors. Approaches that focus on individual-level influences aim to address the biological and interpersonal factors that increase the likelihood of sexual violence victimization or perpetration, such as alcohol and drug use; attitudes and beliefs that support sexual violence; impulsive behaviours; hostility toward women; childhood experiences of family violence; and cognitive distortions.

Social environment approaches are aimed at the community level and aim to impact the wider social context of sexual violence. Examples of this type of intervention include a program in high schools that educates students on the harm of rape, the importance of consent, and how to recognize sex-based sexual harassment. Another example is a program that targets communities with a high rate of sex offending by educating the community on the link between poverty and sex offences.

Poverty is often a root cause of sexual violence because it can lead to the inability to afford basic needs and increase vulnerability to victimization, including housing, education, health, and employment. It is often linked to other structural issues such as racism, sexism, ageism, and gender identity. These issues can lead to a range of problems for victims, including a lack of social support, emotional and physical abuse, and self-harm. They can also make it difficult for people to get help and services. They can also have an impact on loved ones who may experience feelings and thoughts such as fear, anger, self-blame and depression.