Sexual Abuse
Any sexual act that is not based on mutual consent constitutes sexual abuse. That includes unwanted touching, forced sexual activity—oral, anal or vaginal, forcing the victim to perform painful or degrading acts during intercourse (e.g. urinating on victim), and exploitation through photography or prostitution.
The abuser my use violence to rape his partner (most common where there is also physical violence) or he may use only enough force to control his partner's movements (known as 'force-only rape'). Coercion in the form of threats or verbal abuse may also be used, leaving the victim to submit to sex out of fear or guilt. The abuser may threaten to hit her, leave her and find another woman, withdraw financial support, or punish her in some other way. He may insist on sex following a physical attack as a way for the victim to 'prove' she has forgiven him.
Sexual Abuse can involve:
- excessive jealousy
- calling you sexually derogatory names
- criticizing you sexually
- forcing unwanted sexual act
- forcing you to strip
- sadistic sexual acts
- withholding sex
- minimizing or denying your feelings about sex or sexual preferences
- forcing sex after physical assault
- using coercion to force sex
- taking unwanted sexual photos
- forcing you into prostitution
- forcing sex when you are ill or tired
