Terminology

The Language We Use Matters.

Important topics such as sexual, domestic, and intimate partner violence are sensitive and require intentional language when having these discussions. How words are defined can shape research, social perceptions, and how people respond to these events when they happen to themselves or others. We have created a glossary of terms that we often use and how we define them. Although some of these definitions may not fully align with legal definitions or how they are defined elsewhere, our definitions have been created with survivors lived experiences in mind.

Abuse

the act of causing harm or distress, in an attempt to exert control, especially for one’s own advantage or pleasure.

Active Bystander

anyone who takes action to prevent a harmful event or incident from escalating or continuing. Learn more about bystanders

Bystander

anyone who witnesses an event or incident happen. Learn more about bystanders

Bystander effect

the social phenomenon where people do not intervene in a social situation because they believe someone else will intervene; often the more people who witness an event or incident, the less likely it is that someone will intervene. Learn more about the bystander effect

Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse includes a wide range of physical or non-physical sexual behaviors that take place between a child and another child or adult. 

Child Sexual Abuse Material

images, video, or other content that documents or depicts the sexual abuse and exploitation of minors. 

Coercion

The act of using pressure, threats, alcohol or drugs, or force to engage in sexual activity with someone. Learn more about coercion

Consent 

  • Mutual= Parties must agree mutually and freely without any use of deception. No one is withholding information that would cause the other person to not want to engage in sexual acts with them. 
  • Ongoing= Consent is an ongoing process and can be taken back at any time. Throughout the sexual activity, consent is asked for and given, especially if the sexual act changes to a different sexual act.
  • Verbal= Consent must be communicated, consent is not implied through a look or through clothing. If the individual is unable to verbally consent, they must communicate their consent using their primary method of communication.
  • Enthusiastic= free from hesitation, coercion, fear, and any other form of influence other than genuine interest in sexually engaging.
  • Sober= In order to give informed consent, one should be free from cognitive impairment from the use of alcohol and/or other drugs. Learn more about consent and substances

Learn more about consent

Domestic Violence

Violence that occurs within the home and/or amongst any members of the household (house, apartment, dorm, group home, etc). It includes, but is not limited to: stalking, harassment, and mental, emotional, physical, economic, and technological violence Learn more about domestic violence

Exploit

To use someone for one’s own advantage

Gender Expression

How someone expresses their gender identity. For example, via their hairstyle, clothing, voice, appearance, and behavior within the limits of their resources and environment.

Gender Identity

One’s internal experience of being male, female, both, neither, or something else.

Grooming

When a person gradually cultivates a trusting relationship with an individual of any age to abuse or exploit them with their participation. The abuse can be physical, emotional, or sexual.

Holistic Healing

A type of healing that considers all parts of a person’s wellness and is drawn from multiple different disciplines.

Hypersexuality

Heightened interest in sexuality, sexual activity, and sexualizing oneself and/or others.

Intersectionality Theory

A theory coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1981 that multiple parts of a person’s identity or multiple forms of inequity can intersect to form a unique experience of oppression and privilege. Learn more about intersectionality

Intimate Partner Violence

Violence that occurs in a relationship between current and former spouses or dating partners of any length of time. It includes, but is not limited to: stalking, harassment, and mental, emotional, physical, economic, and technological violence. Learn more about intimate partner violence.

Image-based sexual abuse

Creating and/or sharing sexually explicit images, videos, or audio of a person without their consent. Learn more about image-based sexual abuse

Labor Trafficking

The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception; the unlawful act of transporting or coercing people in order to benefit from their work or service.

Normalize

A social process through which ideas or behaviors become socially acceptable.

Passive Bystander

A person who witnesses something but does not take action. Learn more about bystanders

Perpetrator

A person who commits a harmful or illegal act.

Porn

Sexual material (such as videos, images, audio, or text) of consenting adult(s), created for an adult audience with the intention of causing sexual arousal or pleasure.

Rape

A term that is often used in legal settings for a type of sexual assault that specifically includes sexual penetration of the penis, vagina, anus, or mouth without consent. 

Rape Apologist

An umbrella term for someone who blames survivors, has a general disbelief in allegations of abuse, and participates in the normalization of abuse. Learn more about the term rape apologist

Rape Culture

An environment in which sexual violence is prevalent and normalized.

Red Zone

A period of time from the beginning of the school year through Thanksgiving break during which the majority of campus sexual assaults take place. Learn more about the Red Zone

Reproductive Abuse

Exerting power or control over a person’s reproductive health and autonomy

Self-Generated Child Sex Abuse Material  

Images, video, or other content that documents or depicts the sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor that was created by the minor themselves.

Sex

  • Noun: The label (male, female, or intersex) assigned to a person at birth, usually based on their genitalia. 
  • Verb:  Consensual stimulation of the genitals and/or other parts of the body which may or may not involve penetration.

Sexting

The consensual exchange of explicit photos, video, or audio of oneself and/or explicit messages with a partner or partners.

Sex Trafficking

The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception; the unlawful act of transporting or coercing people for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Sexualize

To view or depict something through a sexually suggestive lens; to make or perceive something as sexual particularly when it is not.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual behavior in an attempt to exert control, especially for one’s own advantage or pleasure

Sexual Assault

Any kind of non-consensual physical sexual act. Learn more about sexual assault

Sexual Assault Advocate

A professionally and specially trained individual who responds to and supports survivors of sexual violence. Advocates provide emotional support, community resources, and general information. Learn more about sexual assault advocates

Sexual Exploitation

To use someone for one’s own advantage in a sexual manner

Sexual Harassment

Unwelcome sexual advances or gestures, requests for sexual favors, and other unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, especially in the workplace or other social settings. 

Sexual Trauma 

Trauma centered around sex, one’s reproductive organs, or sexual assault

Sexual Violence

An umbrella term for any kind of non-consensual sexual contact, behavior, or aggression

  • Sexualized violence: When we call it sexualized violence over sexual violence, we emphasize that these are first and foremost acts of violence. Acts like sexual assault are acts of violence that the perpetrator has sexualized.

Learn more about sexual violence

Sexually Explicit

Depicting or implying sexual behaviors and/or nudity.

Stalking

A type of harassment directed at an individual involving persistent, repeated contact and attention. Learn more about stalking 

Survivor

Someone who has lived through and/or witnessed a traumatic experience(s). Learn more about the terms “victim” and “survivor”

Title IX

The federal law that prohibits sex discrimination at educational institutions that receive federal funding. Title IX requires that these schools and universities create a procedure for handling complaints of sexual harassment and violence. Learn more about Title IX

Trauma

A distressing event and/or the lasting emotional impact of the distressing event; anything that overwhelms our ability to cope.

Victim-survivor

Someone who has lived through or witnessed trauma and/or abuse. Learn more about the terms “victim” and “survivor”

Violence

Behavior that causes physical or psychological harm.