This year’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) theme is Building Connected Communities because it takes collaboration among organizations and communities to cause lasting change. As the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) states, how we talk about sexual violence has a profound impact on individuals, families, communities, and society. Our voices have tremendous power to influence our communities and the trajectory of others’ lives. This is a power we must use carefully. In the context of sexual assault awareness, we must first educate ourselves, so we don’t perpetuate myths and harmful stereotypes.
Below is a definition of sexual assault, as well as some key statistics to help you share mindfully about SAAM with your communities.
Unwelcome Sexual Conduct
Sexual violence encompasses a broad spectrum of unwelcome sexual behaviors, including sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. Understanding these forms is pivotal in fostering safer environments and supporting survivors. Here, we shed light on the various manifestations of sexual violence:
- Rape or Sexual Assault – non-consensual sexual penetration or coerced sexual acts
- Sexual Harassment – unwanted verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature
- Sexual Abuse – any form of non-consensual sexual contact
- Unwanted Sexual Contact or Touching – any intentional physical contact of a sexual nature without explicit consent, including unwanted kissing
- Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking – exploiting individuals for sexual purposes through coercion, deception, or force
- Exposing Genitals or Nakedness Without Consent – deliberately revealing private parts to others without their agreement
- Nonconsensual Image Sharing – transmitting intimate images or videos of individuals without their consent
- Words and Actions of a Sexual Nature Without Consent – making sexual advances, comments, or gestures toward someone without their explicit consent
Sexual Assault Statistics
- Most people who experienced sexual violence reported that the perpetrator was someone they knew (Chen, et al., 2023).
- Greater than 53% of women and 29% of men reported experiencing sexual violence (id.).
- Twenty percent of male victims reported their perpetrators were male. Fifty percent reported female perpetrators (id.).
Our most vulnerable populations are also at greatest risk of sexual assault.
- Greater than 29% of non-Hispanic Black women in the United States have been raped (Basile et al., 2022).
- Nearly 35% of Hispanic women have been subjected to unwanted sexual contact (Basile et al., 2022).
- Eighty-four percent of indigenous women have experienced violence (Rosay, 2016).
- Approximately thirty-three perecent of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced sexual violence (Tomsa et al., 2021).
- Forty-seven percent of transgender people have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives (James et al., 2016).
Statistics and real-world cases highlight the pressing need for concerted action.
- The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) reports that a person is sexually assaulted in the United States every 68 seconds.
- Cases involving powerful people, such as Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein, highlighted the systemic nature of sexual assault and the need to hold perpetrators accountable.
Let’s continue striving for a world where everyone feels safe, respected, and empowered to speak out against sexual assault. Together, we can create lasting change.
Still have questions?
SAAM 2024: Building Connected Communities to Prevent Sexual Assault