Definitions

Sexual Assault Glossary

Acquaintance Assault
Sexual assault committed by someone the survivor knows, such as a friend, dating partner, classmate, coworker, neighbor, or family member.

Advocate
A trained professional who provides emotional support, information, safety planning, and resource referrals. Advocates help survivors understand their options while respecting each person's right to make their own decisions.

Boundary
A personal limit that protects an individual's emotional, physical, and sexual well-being. Healthy relationships recognize and respect boundaries.

Coercion
Using pressure, manipulation, guilt, intimidation, threats, or persistent persuasion to obtain sexual activity. Consent obtained through coercion is not voluntary.

Confidentiality
The protection of private information is shared with certain professionals. Confidential advocates and counselors generally do not share information without permission, except in limited situations required by law or when there is an immediate safety concern.

Consent
A clear, voluntary, informed, and ongoing agreement to participate in sexual activity. Consent must be: Freely given
• Informed
• Specific
• Ongoing
• Reversible
A person may withdraw consent at any time, even after sexual activity has begun.

Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault
Sexual assault that occurs when someone is unable to provide consent because they are incapacitated by alcohol or drugs, whether the substances were consumed voluntarily or administered without their knowledge.

Emotional Abuse
A pattern of behavior intended to manipulate, isolate, intimidate, or diminish another person's sense of worth or independence.

False Report
An intentionally fabricated report of a crime. Research consistently shows that false reports of sexual assault are uncommon and occur at rates similar to those of other felony crimes.

Freeze Response
An automatic survival response in which a person's body becomes temporarily unable to move, speak, or resist during a traumatic event.

Grooming
A process in which an offender gradually builds trust, emotional connection, or dependency to manipulate another person into sexual abuse or exploitation.

Incapacitation
A condition in which a person cannot understand or make informed decisions because they are unconscious, asleep, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or experiencing another condition that impairs judgment.

Mandatory Reporter
An individual who is legally or institutionally required to report certain information, depending on state law or organizational policy.

Perpetrator
The individual who commits sexual violence or abuse.

Rape
A form of sexual assault involving penetration without consent.

Reporting Options
The different actions a survivor may choose after an assault, including:
• Reporting to law enforcement
• Reporting to the school
• Receiving medical care only
• Seeking confidential advocacy or counseling
• Choosing not to report

Safety Planning
Developing personalized strategies to increase physical, emotional, and psychological safety following an assault.

Sexual Assault
Any unwanted sexual contact or sexual act that occurs without a person's consent.

Sexual Coercion
Using pressure, guilt, manipulation, threats, or repeated requests to obtain sexual activity from someone who does not freely agree.

Sexual Harassment
Unwelcome sexual comments, advances, requests, or behaviors that interfere with someone's ability to work, study, or feel safe.

Sexual Violence
An umbrella term that includes sexual assault, rape, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, stalking, and other forms of unwanted sexual behavior.

Survivor
A person who has experienced sexual violence. Some individuals prefer the term "victim," while others prefer "survivor." It is best to use the language they choose.

Trauma
An emotional, psychological, and physical response to a deeply distressing or overwhelming event.

Trauma-Informed Care
An approach to support and services that recognize the effects of trauma while prioritizing safety, trust, empowerment, collaboration, and personal choice.

Victim Blaming
Holding a survivor responsible for another person's abusive or criminal behavior.