The aftermath Of Sexual Violence

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In: Sexual Health

When people talk about sexual violence, many people think of child abuse or rape by a stranger. Although these are the most extreme forms of this phenomenon, they are not the only ones. There are many ways of exercising sexual violence, and this situation often occurs in stable and apparently “well-established” couples.

Whatever the case, sexual violence, in all its forms, is deplorable. Although it is generally considered a consequence of machismo, the truth is that women can also exercise it in many ways: from verbal violence to direct physical aggression.

“ Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent .”

-Isaac Asimov-

Now, regardless of the type of sexual violence that is exercised, the truth is that it is an act that leaves consequences for the victim. These can be of different types. They range from feelings of shame and frustration, to serious consequences that  eventually lead to depression, and even suicide.

The concept of sexual violence

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines sexual violence as ‘any sexual act, attempt to perform a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or actions to commercialize or otherwise exploit a person’s sexuality through coercion by another person, regardless of that person’s relationship to the victim, in any setting, including the home and workplace’. Thus, the main characteristic is that all of this corresponds to a non-consensual situation. 

Furthermore, it is also considered sexual violence if the person is not in a condition to give consent, for example if they are drunk, under the influence of drugs, asleep or mentally incapacitated.

There are no precise rules about what is “normal” or “abnormal” in sexuality. There are couples who enjoy inflicting physical pain on each other. The key is, precisely, that they enjoy it , in the plural. It happens between adults, based on an agreement , and does not lead to major negative consequences.

Sexual violence, therefore, is not about aggressive expressions within sexual activity. What defines it is the fact that, on the one hand, it causes emotional or physical suffering to one of the people involved, which they do not want to experience. On the other hand, their desire not to live that type of experience is ignored  , that is, it is imposed on them .

Types of sexual violence

Sexual violence occurs in different ways . Sometimes on the street, by strangers. Sometimes in the family, in a relationship , or at home. There are no exact figures, but judging by the data available, the phenomenon could be quite widespread.

The main types of sexual violence are the following:

  • Sexual harassment is a form of psychological violence in which one person pressures, coerces, intimidates or blackmails another person, with the aim of getting them to have sexual relations.
  • Sexual abuse . This refers to any situation in which a person is forced to engage in sexual conduct against his or her will. It is the most harmful form of sexual violence.
  • Sexual assault . Includes any form of contact with another person’s body, without consent and for sexual purposes. It includes touching and similar practices.

Verbal sexual assault is also a form of sexual violence . It includes abusive allusions to another person’s body or expressions that tend to symbolically invade their sexuality.

The aftermath of sexual violence

The consequences of sexual violence depend on the severity of the incident, the characteristics of the victim and the context in which it occurs. Regardless of this, it is always a serious situation that warrants taking legal, medical and psychological action.

The most common consequences of sexual violence are the following:

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder . This is a condition in which there is anxiety and frequent recollection of what happened, with symptoms of distress and depression. Anger is latent or manifest.
  • Strong feelings of shame and guilt . Victims of sexual violence often feel personally responsible for what happened. Unfounded self-reproaches arise, which easily lead to depression.
  • Depression . Depression is a frequent consequence of this type of act. In the most severe cases, it leads to progressive isolation or serious symptoms that could lead to self-harm or suicide.
  • Substance abuse . Many choose to begin using psychoactive substances to moderate or process the feelings of anxiety, guilt, anger and depression that occur after sexual violence.

People who are victims of sexual violence often cannot react by assuming defensive behaviors . This is because the adrenaline rush can be so strong that it overrides the areas of the brain associated with reasoning and decision-making. Those who have been victims of sexual violence need professional psychological support.

2024-09-20