Sexual Abuse on Women

1237 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Introduction about domestic violence among women

Sexual abuse, also known as sexual assault, is any sort of sexual activity that one doesn’t agree to which includes, inappropriate touching, vaginal, anal, or oral penetration, sexual intercourse that one says no to, rape, attempted rape, as well as child molestation.

Sexual abuse is usually verbal or visual. It can also be anything that forces a person to be in unwanted sexual contact. There are many examples of sexual abuse like voyeurism, exhibitionism, incest, and sexual harassment. Voyeurism means when a person has sexual interest in people that are engaged in private intimate behaviors. Exhibitionism refers to one’s desire of exposing his/her parts of their body in public. Incest is sexual intercourse between family members. Sexual abuse can happen anywhere by anyone whether it’s a stranger or someone a person knows. Most sexually abused women suffer serious health problems as well as emotional problems.

According to “Violence Against Women: Partner and Sexual Assault” (2004), it is estimated that there is 5.3 million interpersonal violence victimizations that have occurred among the US women of ages 18 years and older. This has resulted in nearly 2 million injuries with more than 550,000 requiring medical aid. A recent survey has shown that approximately 1 out of 5 female students that are between grades 9 and 12 have reported that they have been sexually and/or physically abused by their date (Donohoe, 2004). Dating violence is usually at increased risk when there is substance usage involved. It is also found that fifteen percent to twenty percent of women that are seen in primary care clinics are abused within the past years. Also, in the emergency departments, the 22% to 35% of women that are treated for t...

... middle of paper ...

...re better equipped in handling and reporting abuse routinely. Also, changes in laws to protect the victims would improve the status of women.

Works Cited

Campbell, R., Greeson, M., & Patterson, D. (2011). Defining the boundaries: How sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) balance patient care and law enforcement collaboration. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 7, 17-26.

Donohoe, M. (2004). Violence against women: Partner abuse and sexual assault. Retrieved from http://phsj.org/files/Women's Health/partner abuse and sexual assault - Hospital Physician.pdf

Howard, A., Riger, S., Campbell, R., & Wasco, S.M. (2003). Counseling services for battered women: A comparison of outcomes for physical and sexual abuse survivors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 18, 717-734.

Travis, C. (1988). Women and health psychology. LAWRENCE ERLBAUM ASSOCIATES.

Show More
Related

  • Recidivism Rates of Paroled Domestic Violence Offenders

    853 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although domestic violence is a significant societal problem, which continues to receive public and private sector attention, intervention and treatment programs have proven inconsistent in their success. Statistics by various organization show that many offenders continue to abuse their victims. Approximately 32% of battered women are victimized again, 47% of men who abuse their wives do so at least three times per year (MCFBW). There are many varying fact...

    Read More

  • Domestic Violence Counseling Program Specializing in Spousal Rape

    1577 Words  | 4 Pages

    Schewe, P., Riger, S., Howard, A., Staggs, S., & Mason, G. (2006). Factors Associated with Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victimization. Journal Of Family Violence, 21(7), 469-475. doi:10.1007/s10896-006-9042-2

    Read More

  • Violence against Women

    563 Words  | 2 Pages

    The effects of abuse may be detrimental to a woman’s reproductive health, as well as to other aspects of her physical health and psychological state. Along with increasing injury, physical abuse can cause an array of other problems such as increased risk of unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, adverse pregnancy complications, chronic pain, physical disability, depression, and drug and alcohol use. Health care providers often miss opportunities to detect if a woman has been abused by either being unaware, indifferent, or judgmental.

    Read More

  • Sexual Victimization of Women

    1171 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to a statement addressing the sexual victimization of college women The Crime and Victimization in America states that, “ One out of four women will be sexually assaulted on a college campus.” This disturbing fact has not minimized throughout the years, instead it is continuing to worsen throughout college campuses. Sexual assault is not an act to be taken lightly. Society must stop pinpointing the individuals who commit these crimes one by one, but rather look at the problem as a whole and begin to understand the main cause of sexual assault and possible methods to reduce these acts of sexual coercion.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Sexual Assault

    995 Words  | 2 Pages

    What is sexual assault? Sexual assault is, “any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. Falling under the definition of sexual assault are sexual activities as forced sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape” (Sexual Assault).

    Read More

  • Use of CBT to Treat Victims of Domestic Violence

    2253 Words  | 5 Pages

    Women will continue to suffer from domestic violence unless there is some sort of intervention to help them. When dealing with this population, it is essential to create a safe environment where the woman can talk freely about the abuse without any retaliation from the abuser. When someone comes into a therapeutic session, everyone deserves to be treated with respect and care. This in turn will create a sense of hope that a different type of life can be possible. Also, knowing that there is a support system can help the woman begin the process of change. Despite this, the process of leaving the abusive partner is slow (Warshaw, n.d.)

    Read More

  • Domestic Violence and Abuse

    1146 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mayo Clinic Staff. (2011, May 21). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from Domestic violence against women: Recognize patterns, seek help: http://www.mayoclinic.org/domestic-violence/art-20048397?p=1

    Read More

  • Domestic Violence in the United States

    1532 Words  | 4 Pages

    Domestic violence affects a large amount of relationships in the United States each year. As the times have changed, abuse has become less accepted as a normal occurrence, and society has begun working together to provide awareness towards violence in intimate partner relationships. “Problems of family violence are potentially the most destructive in our society” (Kurland 23). Domestic violence is a problem that begins in the home, and spreads to affect the world around it. Violence is present in relationships of all demographics, be it race, sexual orientation, or social class. No one is entirely safe from experiencing abuse, but if society is taught to recognize the signs it can save a life or even prevent abuse from happening.

    Read More

  • The Occurrence of Domestic Violence in the Gay and Lesbian Communities

    1431 Words  | 3 Pages

    Domestic violence, also referred to as intimate partner violence, intimate partner abuse or domestic abuse, affects over one million people in the United States alone. It can be carried out in any number of ways including physically, emotionally, sexually, psychologically and/or financially. Its legal definition considers it to be “any assault, battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, or any criminal offense resulting in physically injury or death of one family member or household member by another who is residing in the same single dwelling unit” (Brown, 2008). In the United States it is considered a major health problem so much so that it was declared the number one health concern by the U.S. Surgeon General in 1992 (Peterman & Dixon, 2003). Not only is it a rapidly growing health problem but it is a growing societal concern as well. Extending beyond the effect felt by the victims and their families, it impacts our communities, government, law enforcement and public service agencies.

    Read More

  • Intimate Partner Violence

    1173 Words  | 3 Pages

    Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is historically referred to as domestic violence. It describes a pattern of coercive and assaultive behavior that may include psychological abuse, progressive isolation, sexual assault, physical injury, stalking, intimidation, deprivation, and reproductive coercion among partners (The Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF), 1999). IPV leads to lifelong consequences such as lasting physical impairment, emotional trauma, chronic health problems, and even death. It is an issue effecting individuals in every community, regardless of age, economic status, race, religion, nationality or educational background. Eighty-five percent of domestic violence victims are women (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2003). More than one in three women in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2012). Thirty to sixty percent of perpetrators tend to also abuse children in the household (Edelson, 1999). Witnessing violence between parents or caretakers is considered the strongest risk factor of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next (Break the Cycle, 2006).

    Read More

  • Domestic Violence Essay with Annotated Bibliography

    1594 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sexual abuse includes any sexual act in which one person has not agreed to it. A woman can be sexually abused by means of, but not limited to force, coercion, blackmail, threat, or embarrassment. Sexual abuse may occur when a woman is forced to perform, watch, or in any other way engage in sexual acts. This includes but is not limited to vaginal, anal and oral sex, fondling, touching, disrespect of privacy, such as showering, being forced to watch pornography or view pornographic pictures, being forced into sexual poses, or being verbally abused in a sexual manner (Morris and Biehl 36, Haley 14).

    Read More

  • Sexual Coercion Essay

    1058 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sexual abuse is “The use of psychological abuse tactics to keep an intimate partner in a submissive position of power. Strategies include sexual degradation, non-contact unwanted sexual experience (e.g., being forced to watch pornography), and reproductive and sexual control,” (Bagwell-Gray, Messing, & Baldwin-White, 2015, p. 323). It is low in force, because non-physical control tactics are used, and it is low in invasiveness because no sexual penetration is involved. Sexual abuse is different than sexual coercion in that the perpetrator is not coercing sex but is rather controlling sex-related decision making. Some examples of sexually controlling acts are refusing to wear condoms, having sex outside the primary relationship, and birth control sabotage (Campbell & Soeken,

    Read More

  • Domestic Violence, Abuse and Neglect

    2543 Words  | 6 Pages

    Weires, M. K. (2012, January). Retrieved December 4, 2013, from Law Enforcement Response to Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault: http://dss.sd.gov/victimservices/cvc/2012CVCHandbook.pdf

    Read More

  • The Severity of Child Sexual Abuse

    1021 Words  | 3 Pages

    Child abuse, while having many different forms and levels of severity, can be basically defined as the maltreatment of a child by a parent or other adult. When one thinks of child abuse, usually the first thing that comes to mind is physical harm, but the issue is actually much more complex. The abuse of a child can also be manifested in verbal and emotional forms, as well as in sexual molestation. All forms of child abuse generally result in similar emotional disorders and behavioral issues, but the major consequences of sexual abuse, such as mental or emotional scarring, promiscuity, and the tendency of former victims to become sexual abusers, cause it to be the most severely damaging form of child abuse.

    Read More

  • Psychological Effects of Sexual Assault

    1498 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sexual assault is a term that is used interchangeably with the word rape. The decision on whether or not to use the term rape or sexual assault is made by a state’s jurisdiction. Sexual assault is more readily used in an attempt to be more gender neutral (National Victim Center). Sexual assault can be most easily described as forced or unconsentual sexual intercourse. The individual that is performing these acts on the victim may either be a stranger or an acquaintance. In 1994, 64.2 percent of all rapes were committed by someone the offender had previously known (Ringel, 1997). Regardless, this type of crime can have extreme effects on the victim.

    Read More

More about Sexual Abuse on Women

Open Document