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Sexual assault is an act
of power and control. It runs along a continuum from unlawful sexual contact
to intrusion, rape, forced sodomy, etc. It is an umbrella term used to refer
to any act of sex/unwanted sexual contact where the perpetrator has not gained
consent.
Rape: Sexual intrusion or penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth of the
victim. The weapon of intrusion used by the perpetrator may be a penis, tongue,
finger or object.
Acquaintance sexual assault
(non-stranger): This is the most common form
of sexual assault and occurs when the perpetrator is known to the victim.
Consent: This includes the exercise of free will, consent in both attitude
and act, and knowledge of what is happening. Consent cannot be given if the
victim is intoxicated, if fear is involved, and consent is not assumed just
because sexual relations may have occurred before between the victim and perpetrator.
How much do you know about sexual assault? Take our quiz and find out!
Information for:
Survivors with disabilities
Survivors of Color
LGBT Survivors
Male survivors
Stalking
Dating Violence
Sexual Assault facts
 One in four women will be a victim of an attempted or completed sexual assault
between her sophomore year in high school and sophomore year in college. (Warshaw,
1988)
One of seventeen Colorado men has experienced an attempted or completed rape
as a child and/or an adult (Sexual Assault in Colorado: Results of a 1998
Survey, July 1999)
84 to 97.8 percent of sexual assaults against students are perpetrated by young
men known to the victim (Fisher, Cullen & Turner, 2000)
A substantial number of victims do not define their experiences in legal terms
even though the actions rise to the definition of a crime. It is particularly
true when weapons are absent, alcohol is present, and/or physical injury is
not apparent (Bondurant, 2001; Warshaw, 1988).
As many as 70% of sexual assaults involve alcohol, consumed either by the perpetrator
or the victim. Alcohol serves to make victims more vulnerable and perpetrators
perhaps more brazen, but it does not cause the assault nor does it justify
it. (Ending Violence Against Women, 2000)
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