Sexual Assault in Childhood and Adolescence

Abstract

1.1 Definition of sexual assault Although definition of violence may vary in different societies and cultures, it can be defined as all behavior that affects bio-psycho-social status of individuals. In the United Kingdom the Sexual Offences Act 2003 defines "sexual assault" as when a person (A) 1. intentionally touches another person (B), 2. the touching is sexual, 3. B does not consent to the touching, and 4. A does not reasonably believe that B consents (Official text of the Sexual Offences Act, 2003). In the United States the definition of sexual assault varies widely between the individual states. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network defines "sexual assault" as unwanted sexual contact that stops short of rape or attempted rape. This includes sexual touching and fondling. (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network [RAINN], 2005) According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, "sexual assault can be verbal, visual, or anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention." Sexual assault is therefore somewhat of an umbrella term, and can describe many things, including:  rape, including partner and marital rape  unwanted sexual contact (touching or grabbing)  unwelcome exposure of another's body, exhibitionism, or voyeurism  child sexual abuse  incest or molestation  sexual harassment  sexual exploitation of clients by therapists, doctors, dentists, or other professionals (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services,2011). Sexual violence is described as sexually motivated behavior that exerted against one’s privacy despite one’s resistance. Furthermore, all sexually motivated behavior directed to low aged or mentally retarded individuals included in scope of the term of sexual violence (Christian et al., 2000; ChuT Herbert et al., 1992).