What is rape and sexual assault

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Rape and sexual assault both mean sexual contact that a woman does not want. Rape is any time a man puts his penis, finger, or any object into a woman’s vagina, anus, or mouth without her consent.

Rape is sometimes called sexual ‘assault’ because it is an act of violence, using sex as a weapon. Sexual assault can include rape as well as other kinds of unwanted sexual attention.

Some people think that forced sex is rape only if the man beats up a woman or leaves her unconscious. They think she must try hard to get away and risk being killed rather than be raped. But even if a woman does not fight back, it is still rape. No matter what she decides to do, if it was not her choice, it was rape, and it is never her fault. Rape is sexual violence. Women are not to blame for it.


Sources
  • Burns, A. A., Niemann, S., Lovich, R., Maxwell, J., & Shapiro, K. (2014). Where women have no doctor: A health guide for women. Hesperian Foundation.
  • Audiopedia ID: en020302