The impacts of sexual assault on women

Abstract

In presenting this information we are mindful of a number of points: women may experience none, some or many of the possible impacts of sexual assault at different times; there are likely to be impacts of sexual assault that researchers have yet to identify; there is no single way a sexual assault victim should look and act; impacts are not signs of illness, deficiencies or weakness, nor are they characteristics of the individual—rather, they are normal responses to traumatic events. A range of factors can influence the impact of sexual assault, including: „ the victim/survivor's relationship to the perpetrator; „ the extent and severity of any accompanying psychological or physical abuse; „ the severity of the abuse; „ the extent of physical harm; „ the length of time over which the abuse occurred; „ the responses of family and friends of the victim/survivor; „ the woman's experience of the various systems (health, police, courts etc.) with which she may have contact following the assault; and „ the personal history of the victim/survivor (Daane, 2005). rape is not just physical violence, it is also mental violence. it is not easily forgotten. (unnamed victim/survivor in easteal, 1994, p. 99) this resource sheet gathers together the findings from a wide range of research into the impacts of sexual assault on adult women. sexual assault can include a diverse range of experiences and, as such, the effects of sexual assault on the victim/survivor and the community at large are also diverse. the effect of sexual assault is not only psychological or emotional but also impacts upon physical, social, interpersonal and financial domains. these are all considered in this resource. 2 | Australian institute of family studies resource sheet Psychological and emotional impacts Sense of a foreshortened future was for me the most terrifying symptom of trauma, I was obsessed with the thought that I was going to die … even though he was gone, my psy-che still behaved as if it expected a disaster to happen. (" Rachel " , in Easteal & McCormond-Plummer, 2006, p. 140) A range of short-and long-term psychological and emotional impacts have been associated with sexual assault.