What is Sexual Assault?

Sexual assault is any kind of non-consensual physical sexual act. It is an umbrella term that itself falls underneath the umbrella of sexual violence. Sexual assault covers a wide range of sexually violent acts that involve physical contact. All sexual assaults are acts of sexual violence, but not all acts of sexual violence are sexual assaults. 

The act does not need to be penetrative in order to be an act of sexual assault. Non-penetrative sexual contact, such as groping, or making non-consensual physical contact with an intimate body part, is also a form of sexual assault. Additionally, sexual assault does not always involve genitals, and may involve other intimate body parts such as the anus, breasts, or mouth. Sexual assault also does not need to involve body-to-body contact, the use of an object to make  non-consensual physical sexual contact is also sexual assault.

No act of sexual assault is “worse than” or “not as bad” as another act of sexual assault. 

How Do I Know It Was Sexual Assault?

After sexual assault, many survivors struggle to label their experience as sexual assault for a variety of reasons. Many people have not been educated on what sexual assault looks like, and even when they have, it can be difficult for some to accept that label. It’s not uncommon for survivors to be left wondering if their experience really “counts.” If your experience left you feeling sexually violated and involved physical contact, it is likely that it was a form of sexual assault. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to respond to sexual assault.

When it comes to another person’s sexual assault experience, we do not get to decide whether or not the act was sexual assault.