Sexual Assault

Victimization
By : Muhammad Asad
Roll number: 1308
• Sexual Assault Victimization occurs when
a person has sexual contact with another
person when she/he did not want the contact
or could not consent.
• Approximately one third of sexual violence is
perpetrated by an intimate partner.
• Intimate partners can include current or former
spouses, girlfriends, or boyfriend.
• Potential Assailant Categories:
• Intimate partner
• Relative
• Friend
• The person you are dating
• Any unknown person

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Characteristics of Victim
• The characteristics of a victim of sexual
violence can vary widely, but two common
characteristics are mentioned as follows:
1. Age
2. Gender

• Every victim's experience is unique, and no

single characteristic can fully define or explain
their experience of sexual violence.
• These characteristics are described as follows.

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 Age

• Age is a significant characteristic in

understanding sexual violence victims, as it
influences vulnerability and experiences.
• Victims of sexual violence span a wide range of
age groups, from children to the elderly.

• Older women, married women, and men, for

example, may be less likely to report this type
of victimization.

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 Age

• The National Women’s Study reported the

following data concerning the age of victims:

1. 32% of sexual assaults occurred when the victim

was between the ages of 11 and 17
2. 29% of all rapes occurred when the victim was
younger than age 11
3. 22% occurred between the ages of 18 and 24
4. 7% occurred between ages 25 and 29
5. 6% occurred when the victim was older than 29

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 Age

• Data from the National Incident-Based

Reporting System (NIBRS) offers valuable
insights into the age distribution of sexual
assault victims reported to law enforcement
agencies.
• According to Snyder (2000), more than two-
thirds of all reported sexual assault victims
were juveniles i.e. younger than 18 years old.
• More than half of all juvenile victims were
younger than age 12.
• More specifically, from all victims of sexual
assault reported to law enforcement were
1. 33% are between 12 to 17
2. 34% are younger than 12
3. 14% are younger than 5
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 Gender

• According to official statistics, approximately

90% of rape and sexual assault victims are
female.
• Estimates for male victims of sexual assault
range between 5% and 14%.
• Data suggest that both male and female
victimization rates are alarmingly high.
• Children, college students, persons with
disabilities, and incarcerated individuals are
most vulnerable to rape or sexual assault.

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 Extent of Injury to Victims

• Data on physical injury in sexual assault

indicate that 58% of female victims suffered
physical harm during the attack.
• Types of injuries reported include cuts, bruises,
internal injuries, broken bones, gunshot
wounds, or rape injuries.
• Approximately 35% of female victims who
sustained physical injuries sought treatment
for their injuries.
• Similar to women, men who experience sexual
abuse report various psychological issues such
as depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, sexual
dysfunction, loss of self-esteem, and
relationship difficulties.

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 Relationship of the Victim to the Offender

• Research by Kilpatrick, Whalley, and Edmunds

(2002) shows that:
1. 24.4% of rapists were strangers
2. 21.9% were husbands or ex-husbands
3. 19.5% were boyfriends or ex-boyfriends
4. 9.8% were relatives
5. 14.6% were other nonrelatives such as friends or
neighbors.

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 Effects of Sexual Assault Victimization

• Sexual assault victimization can have profound

and lasting effects on individuals, impacting
various aspects of their lives.

• Effects of sexual assault victimization,

encompassing psychological, physical,
interpersonal, and societal consequences.

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 Effects of Sexual Assault Victimization

• Psychological Effects:

1. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

2. Depression
3. Anxiety
4. Suicidal ideation
5. Shame and guilt
6. Flashbacks and nightmares

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 Effects of Sexual Assault Victimization

• Physical Effects:

1. physical injuries
2. Cuts and bruises
3. Internal injuries
4. Broken bones
5. Gunshot wounds

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 Effects of Sexual Assault Victimization

• Sexual Dysfunctional Effects:

1. Pain during intercourse

2. Loss of libido
3. Erectile dysfunction (in males)
4. Vaginismus (in females)
5. Fear towards sexual activity

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 Effects of Sexual Assault Victimization

• Interpersonal Effects:

1. Trust issues
2. Difficulty establishing or maintaining healthy
relationships
3. Increased risk of addiction
4. Compromised mental and physical health
5. Difficulty concentrating
6. Impaired social functioning

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