Sexual violence is any kind of unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature, that you did not consent to. You don’t have to have previously objected to someone's behaviour for it to be considered unwanted.
Consent needs to be given freely and with full capacity to do so – this capacity is impaired/not present when drunk, under influence of drugs, asleep, unconscious, coerced. These factors can be particularly relevant to some of the students we support.
It disproportionately affects female survivors and those with marginalised identities, with a majority of male perpetrators. It forms part of a continuum of gender-based violence and inequality.
However, anyone can survive or perpetrate domestic abuse and we are here to support members of the Bath Spa community who experience it, regardless of sex, gender and other identity characteristics.
Perpetrators may be known or unknown to the survivor, and can also be of any gender, sexuality, or other characteristic.
Sexual violence can happen anywhere and is not only something that happens on the street at the hand of strangers. The majority of sexual violence is perpetrated by someone known to the survivor, in their own home.
It does not always include physical contact or violence. Examples of sexual violence include:
- intimate image abuse
- non-fatal strangulation/choking
- sending emails with a sexual content
- making unwanted sexual comments or jokes
- physical behaviour including unwanted sexual advances or touching
- child sexual abuse
- rape
Further information about different types of sexual violence can be found here.