Definitions and forms

Definitions and Types of Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is an act of domination, humiliation, abuse of power and violence mainly committed against women and children, which is a form of social control by trying to keep women in fear and in subordination.

Sexual assault is the imposition of sexual attitudes, words or gestures against the person’s will or lack of consent, using intimidation, threats, blackmail, verbal, physical or psychological violence, rewards, privileges and taking advantage of the person’s vulnerability.

This definition applies regardless of the age, gender, culture, religion or sexual orientation of the victim or the sexual abuser, regardless of the type of sexual act and the location or environment in which it occurred, and regardless of the nature of the relationship between the victim and the sexual abuser.

“Sexual assault is an act of a sexual nature, with or without physical contact, committed by an individual without the consent of the person to whom it is directed or, in some cases, including children, through emotional manipulation or blackmail. It is an act intended to subjugate another person to his or her own desires through the abuse of power, the use of force or coercion, or through implicit or explicit threats. Sexual assault violates fundamental rights, including physical and psychological integrity and security of the person” (Government Directions concerning Sexual Assault).

There is more than one type of sexual assault – with or without physical contact. The impacts vary from person to person, regardless of the form of assault experienced.

All forms are serious.

Sexual Assault/Rape

Rape was defined by Canadian law until 1983 as forced sexual intercourse where the penis is penetrated into the vagina. Although still used in popular language, the term rape has been replaced in current law by sexual assault because it was too limiting. Sexual assault includes any forced sexual contact with or without penetration, such as touching.

Sexual assault by involuntary intoxication

The use of drugs or medication given without the victim’s knowledge and causing a loss of faculties making consent to sexual activity impossible.

Gang Assault

Assault perpetrated by more than one assailant.

Sexual touching

Touching of a sexual nature that the perpetrator applies to the person or asks the person to apply to him or her, whether or not to the genitals.

Exhibitionism

The act of exposing one’s genitals in public.

Sexual exploitation

Sexual exploitation involves a person taking advantage of another person’s body for sexual purposes in order to gain a financial benefit or any kind of benefit. It is a set of activities that includes the production of child pornography, the non-consensual production or sharing of intimate images, cyber sexual exploitation, luring, sexual slavery, sex tourism, human trafficking, coercion by blackmail or threats to produce pornographic images, etc. Sexual exploitation is achieved through blackmail, intimidation, threats, trickery and psychological or physical violence.

Frotteurism

Behaviour of an individual who seeks physical contact with non-consenting persons in public places. For example, an individual attempts to rub their sexual organs on strangers on public transportation.

Sexual Harassment

Any unwanted words and/or behaviours of a sexual nature (e.g., stares, words, gestures, touching, threats, propositions, jokes, display of pornographic material, etc.) that cause discomfort, fear, and threaten a person’s well-being or employment. Most often, sexual harassment is repetitive in nature and is often done by a person in a position of power (e.g., teacher, coach, boss, etc.). Sexual harassment often includes promises of rewards or threats if refused.

Incest

Any sexual activity usually involving a minor and a person who has a family responsibility or parental figure relationship with the minor. For CALACS, blood relationships are not necessary in order to talk about incest. The aggressor may have an important family figure without having a blood relationship (spouse or husband of my mother, brother by marriage, etc.).

Voyeurism

Behaviour whose main characteristic is to observe the privacy or nudity of a person or group of people.