Types of Sexual Violence

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While this list does describe many types of sexual violence it does not cover every situation. Remember Sexual Violence covers any and all unwelcome sexual activity. 

Sexual Violence includes, but is not limited to:

• Sexual harassment.
• Sexual assault.
• Threat of sexual assault.
• Criminal harassment (including stalking and cyber harassment).
• Relationship violence and gender-based misconduct.

Examples of sexual violence which may be verbal, non-verbal or physical, include but are not limited to:

• Unwelcome sexual advances.
• Unwanted attention.
• Requests for sexual favors.
• Indecent acts or exposure (revealing one's genitals or touching themselves in a sexual nature in public).
• Voyeurism (taking photos or videos of someone that are sexual in nature without their knowledge or consent).
• Unwelcome remarks or comments about someone’s sexuality, appearance and bodily presentation, gender or gender expression.
• Attempts to extort sexual favors (attempts to obtain sexual favors by unfair means; threats, force, blackmail, etc.).
• Inappropriate touching.
• Repeated and vulgar sexual comments.
• Display of pornographic or suggestive calendars, signs, posters and/or photographs.
• Non-consensual posting of pictures, aggressive comments or stereotypes and slurs on social media.
• Non-consensual communications of a sexual nature (face-to-face, phone, email, social media).
• Threatening or obscene gestures.
• Surveillance and pursuit.
• Sending unsolicited gifts (romantic, bizarre, sinister or sexualized).
• ‘Creeping’ via social media/cyber-stalking.
• Uttering threats.

It is never the survivor’s fault and it is never okay.