Sexual Assault
In the United States, one in three women and one in six men are survivors of sexual violence.
Sexual assault is used by perpetrators to cause harm and dominate others—motivated by a need to control, humiliate and harm. It is never a survivor’s fault. Rape is a form of sexual assault and is often used as a legal definition to specifically include sexual penetration without consent.
Sexual assault refers to any sexual, physical, verbal or visual act that forces a person to engage in sexual contact against their will or without their affirmative consent. Legal definitions of these terms vary by state and jurisdiction.
About Sexual Assault
What is sexual assault? What is rape? Learn the common definitions of these terms, along with the meaning of consent.
Statistics
The number of survivors of sexual assault are staggering. Read the statistics of the number of people who have experienced sexual violence.
Know the Warning Signs
Survivors each have their own response to trauma. Learn some of the common signs to look out for if you think you or someone you know may have been assaulted.
Effects of This Trauma
Survivors of sexual assault can experience the effects of trauma in many ways without a specific timeline.
About Sexual Assault
No matter what the circumstances of these crimes are, sexual assault and rape are not motivated by sexual desire. Perpetrators commit sexual assault and rape to dominate, exert power over and hurt victims. It is never a survivor’s fault
What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual assault is a term that refers to any unwanted sexual act against or without a person’s consent. It includes any sexual, physical, verbal or visual act that forces a person to engage in sexual contact against their will or without their consent.
Legally, sexual assault is defined differently in each state.
What is Rape?
Rape is a form of sexual assault. It is defined as forced sexual intercourse, including any completed or attempted unwanted vaginal, oral or anal penetration through the use of physical force (such as being pinned or held down, or by the use of violence) or threats to physically harm (such as killing the victim).
As with sexual assault, rape is legally defined differently in each state.
What is Consent?
Consent is approval or agreement given without force or coercion. Consent also means a person is capable of consciously agreeing to sexual acts. A person cannot give consent if they are impaired by physical, mental or emotional reasons, as well as their status by age, role or relationship to the perpetrator.
If a victim does not fight the acts, it does not mean they consented. A person may not fight as protection from being hurt even more. Laws defining consent also vary by state.
Effects of Sexual Assault and Rape
In the aftermath of a sexual assault, survivors can face extremely difficult and painful emotions and experiences. Every survivor responds to traumatic events differently. The effects of the trauma can be short-term or can last long after the sexual assault or rape.
While this page describes effects survivors often experience, it is not exhaustive. If a survivor’s reactions do not match common responses—such as no physical injury—it does not mean what happened was not sexual abuse or assault.
What are common mental health effects of sexual assault?
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety and uncontrollable thoughts
- Depression, including prolonged sadness, feelings of hopelessness, unexplained crying, weight loss or gain, loss of energy or interest in activities previously enjoyed
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts. If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255.
- Dissociation, including not being able to focus on work or on schoolwork, as well as not feeling present in everyday situations
Signs of Sexual Assault
Survivors of sexual violence may feel uncomfortable immediately sharing their traumatic experience. There can be signs, however, that a person may have been sexually assaulted.
Signs can vary depending on the context of the assault and the survivor. An individual’s natural reaction to stress and coping may influence how a survivor reacts. Other factors can include the age of a survivor, previous exposure to unrelated traumatic incidents and extent of therapy or timing of interventions.
If you think you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, we encourage you to reach out to RAINN or your local rape crisis center.
Sexual Assault Statistics
Sexual assault affects many lives — both directly and indirectly. It can span age, sexual orientation, religion and gender, and affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels. Sexual violence is not an isolated problem.
Every
68
Seconds
another person in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. 1
1 in 6
women
in the U.S. has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime (14.8% completed, 2.8% attempted). 2
3%
Men
in the U.S. have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. 2
55% of incidents happen at or near the victim’s home. 4
Emergency Resources
There are resources available for you. You are not alone. In an emergency, call 911.
- Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2019 (2020).
- National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women Survey (1998).
- Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Female Victims of Sexual Violence, 1994-2010 (2013); ii. National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women Survey (1998).
- Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Female Victims of Sexual Violence, 1994-2010 (2013).