Understanding Sexual Violence
How can we prevent violence and support survivors when we don’t understand their experiences? There are many misconceptions about sexual, domestic, and intimate partner violence that create stigma and shame for survivors, which can make it harder for them to seek and accept support.
Educating ourselves on what sexual, domestic, and intimate partner violence look like and the variety of ways these experiences can impact someone is how we can create open, safe, and supportive spaces for survivors.
Overcoming Common Myths
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The “Perfect Victim” Myth
The “perfect victim” is a common victim-blaming myth that has a negative effect on survivors. The perfect victim is an archetype outlining how a…
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Why Don’t Survivors Report?
After surviving sexual violence, victim-survivors often feel pressured by others, or even by themselves, to file a report to the police. Survivors are often…
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Why Do People Victim-Blame?
To victim-blame is to explicitly state or imply that the person who experienced a crime or an act of violence is fully or partially…
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Why Don’t People Leave Abusive Relationships?
Far too often, survivors of domestic and/or intimate partner violence hear some variation of the phrase, “Why Didn’t You Leave?” Asking such a question,…
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What is a Rape Apologist?
“Rape Apologist” is an umbrella term for someone who for someone who blames survivors, has a general disbelief in allegations of assault, and participates…
Understanding Sexual Violence
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What is Consent?
Consent is essential in all of our interactions, not just sexual activity. When it comes to sexual acts, the presence of consent is what…
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Can I Consent When I’m Not Sober?
Consensual sex can happen after using substances. So, why do we state that consent is sober? When we say that consent is sober, we…
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Digital Consent: Sending Nudes
An incredibly common way to express one’s sexuality online is by exchanging nude, semi-nude, or suggestive images of oneself, sometimes referred to as sexting…
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What Is Sexual Violence?
Sexual violence is an umbrella term for any kind of non-consensual sexual contact, behavior, or aggression. While often used interchangeably with the term sexual…
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What is Sexual Coercion?
Sexual coercion is the act of using pressure, threats, alcohol or drugs, or force to engage in sexual activity with someone. This type of…
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What is Image-based Sexual Abuse?
Image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) is a form of sexual abuse where the perpetrator creates and/or shares sexually explicit images, videos, or audio of a…
Understanding Relationship Violence
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Emotional Abuse
Abuse is the act of causing harm or distress, in an attempt to exert control, especially for one’s own advantage or pleasure. Emotional abuse…
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Verbal Abuse
Abuse is the act of causing harm or distress, in an attempt to exert control, especially for one’s own advantage or pleasure.Verbal abuse is…
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Physical Abuse
Abuse is the act of causing harm or distress, in an attempt to exert control, especially for one’s own advantage or pleasure. Physical abuse…
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Financial Abuse
Abuse is the act of causing harm or distress, in an attempt to exert control, especially for one’s own advantage or pleasure. Financial and…
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What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is violence that occurs within the home amongst any members of the household. It includes, but is not limited to: stalking, harassment,…
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What Is Intimate Partner Violence?
Intimate partner violence is violence that occurs in a relationship between current or former spouses or dating partners of any length of time. It…