Sexual Assault – A person touching another person in a sexual manner without consent. This also includes forcing or pressuring someone to touch another person in a sexual way without their consent.
What is Consent?
Consent happens when everyone involved in any kind of sexual activity freely agrees to take part. This means they have both the freedom and the capacity to make that choice.
Freedom means you agreed to take part without feeling any force, intimidation, pressure or manipulation.
Capacity means that you were able to make that decision. For example, you don’t have capacity if you were very drunk, drugged, asleep, or unconscious – or if you were too young to consent to sex.
Consent doesn’t happen when you are:
- Scared, threatened, bullied or forced
- Manipulated, tricked or blackmailed
- Asleep or unconscious
- Drunk or “on” drugs
- Too young to consent to sex
If you are wondering whether you consented or not, it might be helpful to think about what consent does look and feel like.
Sexual activity with consent might look like:
- Enthusiastically saying ‘yes!’
- Talking to the other person about what you do and don’t want, and listening to them in return.
- Checking in with the other person – for example, asking ‘is this okay?’, ‘do you want to slow down?’ or ‘do you want to stop?’
- Respecting someone’s choice if they say ‘no’
- Never trying to change someone’s mind or put pressure on them.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month:
SAAM ( Sexual Assault Awareness Month ) is a month that is dedicated to standing with survivors, raising awareness, and breaking the silence surrounding sexual violence. Around the world, the numbers are staggering: an estimated 840 million women have experienced physical or sexual violence and about 1 in 6 men have faced some form of sexual abuse or assault in their lifetime
Communities across the globe come together during this time to have honest conversations about educating others about sexual violence, and coming up with different approaches and ideas that can push for real change.
Technology is making it worse!
Nowadays, technology isn’t making things easier in fact it’s making things much harder. Technology has created new ways to expand the reach of sexual violence beyond physical spaces. This includes form of technology-facilitated sexual violence such as:
- Online harassment and stalking – An individual is being repeatedly targeted, threatened or monitored by another individual through digital platforms
- Non-consensual sharing of intimate images – Where private photos or videos are distributed without permission
- Sextortion – Form of blackmail in which someone threatens to release private or intimate content for personal gain
- Deepfakes – A person’s face is used without consent to create harmful and sexual content
- Predators using online platforms – manipulate, exploit, and target young victims
Be aware that sexual assault can happen to anyone; regardless of gender, age, or background. It affects people of all identities and it can happen anywhere. Approximately 80-85% of completed SA are committed by someone who is known to the victim/survivor.
You are not alone!
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, help is available. You can reach out to Pathways for Change (formerly Rape Crisis Center of Central Mass) at (800) 870-5905.
More Key Resources & Support in Worcester:
- Spanish Language Hotline: 1-800-223-5001
- Worcester Police Dept ( investigation ): (508) 799-8630
- YWCA Daybreak: (508) 755-9030
- Victim Compensation: (617) 727-2200
Remember: if you are ever facing any form of sexual violence or assault, you are not alone. There are trusted adults, counsellors, and support systems ready to listen, believe you, and help keep you safe. You deserve to be heard, supported, and protected.
