Centre d'aide et de lutte contre
les agressions à caractère sexuel
Initial Effects
Emotional disorder: Fear, anger, distress, anxiety, etc.;
Physical symptoms: Trouble sleeping, eating disorders, different physical injuries and pains, trouble concentrating, etc.;
Sexual difficulties: STD's, negative perceptions of sexuality, disgust, sexual dysfunction, pregnancy, etc.;
Difficulty with social interaction.
83% of victims were female.
The alleged perpetrators of these sexual assaults were mainly male (97%).
66% of victims were under 18.
76% 0ffenses against young victims and 61% of adult victims have been committed in a private residence.
Statistiques
Myths and prejudices about sexual assault contribute not only to the difficulties experienced by victims, but also perpetuate sexual assault in our society.To learn more about common myths and prejudices, take our quiz > (quiz in french only for now)
Long Term Effects
- Self-destructive behaviors: self-mutilation, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, disrupting all positive aspects of their life, dangerous and abusive consumption of alcohol, drugs or sex, etc.;
- Anxiety: panic or anxiety attacks, repetitive nightmares, lack of sleep, flash-backs, obsessing over their physical appearance or their environment, etc.;
- Eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, morbid obesity;
- Dissociation: loss of perception of space and time, feeling detached from their body, feeling surreal;
- Low self-esteem: isolation, negative perception of themselves or their body;
- Phobia: fear of being touched, agoraphobia (fear of crowds), eating phobias (milk, yogurt, mayonnaise, etc.), claustrophobia (fear of small spaces);
- Obsessive and compulsive behaviors: compulsively washing their hands, repetitive baths and showers, checking the locks, etc.;
- Interpersonal troubles: social troubles, conflicts with others, difficulty with sexual relationships (especially with men), increased vigilance and distrust of others, affected parental functions, excessive control of themselves or their environment, etc.;
- Sexual difficulties: anxiety about sexuality, decrease or increase in their sexual activity, disgust or aversion to everything sexual, prostitution or lifestyle characterized by domination and sexual exploitation, etc.;
- Feeling ashamed, guilty, mean or bad. These feelings are the result of comments and negative references communicated to the child during sexual assault. Often, these comments stay in the mind of the victim until adulthood which affects their self-perception.
Sexual assaults can take many forms. Here are a few :
- Kissing of a sexual nature
- Touching: breasts, thighs, buttocks, penis, vulva, anus
Masturbation of the victim by the perpetrator or vice versa
- Oral-genital contact:
- Cunnilingus: contact between the mouth and a girl’s or woman’s genitals.
- Fellatio: the insertion of the perpetrator’s penis into the victim’s mouth or the insertion of the victim’s penis into the perpetrator’s mouth.
- Penetration: vaginal or anal penetration with a penis, finger or other object.
- Exhibitionism: the practice of exposing one’s genitals in public.
- Frottage: the practice of rubbing against non-consenting persons in a public area. For example, attempting to rub one’s genitals against strangers on the bus.
- Voyeurism: "voyeuristic" activity refers to watching individuals who are naked or involved in sexual activity.
tiré de http://www.agressionssexuelles.gouv.qc.ca/
Myths and prejudices
Sexual assault is an act of domination, humiliation, abuse of power, and violence mainly directed at women and children. Sexual assault means imposing attitudes, words, or gestures with sexual connotations against someone's will using intimidation, manipulation, threat, blackmail or verbal, physical or psychological violence.
Anyone can be the victim of a sexual assault regardless of age, physical appearance, cultural background, global state of health, sexual orientation, etc. Sexual assault can also happen at anytime, anywhere: in a house, on the street, at work and at any time of the day or night. Finally, there are many different relations between an assailant and their victim, as the assailant is often a friend, a boyfriend, a member of the family, an acquaintance, an employer, a colleague, a neighbour, a professional that you are consulting, or a stranger.