Sexual abuse refers to any abusive sexual behavior imposed by one person on another without consent or by exploiting power imbalances. It often involves physical force, coercion, or taking advantage of someone unable to give informed consent, such as children, elderly, or people with disabilities
. Examples of sexual abuse include:
- Unwanted sexual touching or kissing
- Rape or attempted rape
- Forcing or pressuring someone into sexual acts
- Sexual contact with someone who is intoxicated or unconscious
- Restricting access to birth control or protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Sexual harassment, indecent exposure, sexual teasing, or sexual photography without consent
Sexual abuse can happen in various contexts, including between strangers, family members, caregivers, or intimate partners, and it can occur in both same-sex and opposite-sex relationships
. Key points:
- Sexual abuse is characterized by lack of freely given consent and often involves fear, coercion, or manipulation
- It includes abuse of children (child sexual abuse), adults, elderly, and vulnerable individuals
- The perpetrator can be anyone from a family member to a stranger or professional caregiver
- Victims may experience physical signs like bruises or genital injuries and psychological effects such as trauma, behavioral changes, or aversion to intimacy
In summary, sexual abuse is any sexual act or behavior forced upon someone without their willing consent, often involving exploitation, coercion, or abuse of power
