What is the Difference Between Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between sexual assault and sexual abuse lies in the age of the victim and the nature of the acts committed.
- Sexual Assault: This term is typically used to describe sex crimes committed against adult victims and often involves a one-time event or forced sexual contact. Sexual assault can include unwanted touching, kissing, groping, and rape. In cases where a victim is unsure, asleep, under the influence, or coerced, they cannot consent, and any sexual act that occurs under such circumstances is considered sexual assault.
- Sexual Abuse: This term is mainly used to describe sex crimes committed against minors under the age of consent, which generally refers to ongoing sex crimes against a child for a period of time, such as a pattern of abuse. Legally, children cannot give their consent to sexual activities, and any sexual acts that occur with a child are considered sexual abuse.
In summary:
- Sexual assault generally involves adult victims and can encompass a wide range of sexual acts, often committed as a one-time event.
- Sexual abuse typically involves minor victims and refers to ongoing patterns of sexual acts against a child.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse? Comparative Table: Sexual Assault vs Sexual Abuse
Comparative Table: Sexual Assault vs Sexual Abuse
The main difference between sexual assault and sexual abuse is that sexual assault typically refers to incidents involving adults, while sexual abuse generally refers to incidents involving minors or children. Here is a table outlining the differences between sexual assault and sexual abuse:
Term | Definition | Consent | Age of Victim | Examples |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sexual Assault | Any unwanted sexual act or behavior which is threatening, violent, forced, or coercive and to which a person has not given consent | Lack of consent | Adults | Unwanted touching, kissing, rubbing, groping, forcing the victim to touch the perpetrator in sexual ways, rape |
Sexual Abuse | Unwanted sexually motivated acts that are intended to cause pain or humiliation, often involving a power imbalance between the parties | Lack of consent | Minors or children | Sexual coercion, sexual fondling, exposing a child to pornography, forced sexual acts |
Both sexual assault and sexual abuse are serious crimes that can have long-lasting effects on the victims. It is essential to understand the differences between these terms to provide appropriate support and assistance to those affected by these acts.
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