Dating violence, intimate partner violence, or domestic abuse can happen in several different forms. Experiencing any of these is NOT OKAY. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these forms of abuse , seek help immediately .
Sexual harassment
- Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.
- Sexual harassment does not always have to be specifically about sexual behavior or directed at a specific person. Some examples include:
- Staring or looking at someone's body up and down
- Comments or jokes about sex or private body parts
- Repeatedly asking for dates despite being turned down or asking for sexual favors
- Teases about someone’s sexuality, sexual development, or gender identity
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is the sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim. Forms of sexual assault can include:
- Penetration of the victim’s body, also known as rape
- Unwanted sexual touching
- Forcing a victim to perform sexual acts
Domestic Abuse
- Domestic abuse can also be called "domestic violence" or "intimate partner violence".
- Domestic abuse is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain control over another partner in a relationship. This can take on many different forms including physical, emotional, or verbal abuse .
- Domestic abuse can impact couples who are married, living together, or dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.
Stalking
- Stalking occurs when someone watches, follows, or harasses you repeatedly, making you feel afraid and unsafe.
- A stalker can be someone you know, a past partner, or a stranger.
Sexual Misconduct
In a healthy relationship, both people feel comfortable with the level of physical activity, whether that means holding hands, kissing, touching, and/or having intercourse.
If someone makes you feel forced to do something you don’t want to do, you may be experiencing coercion. Sexual coercion is “the act of using pressure, alcohol or drugs, or force to have sexual contact with someone against his or her will” and includes “persistent attempts to have sexual contact with someone who has already refused.”
If sexual coercion is happening, there is a lack of consent and the coercive partner doesn’t respect the boundaries of the other. Consent is an ongoing mutual agreement between partners about what they want to experience.
To learn more about Domestic Violence (DV) and harassment, view some of our additional articles here.
Additional Resources
National Domestic Violence Hotline : 800-799-7233
National Center for Victims of Crime: 855-4-VICTIM (855-484-2846)