Spectrum of Violence

Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is a broad term that refers to any sexual behaviors, actions, and/or words that are unwanted or where consent is not given freely. This includes when acts of sexual violence are attempted or completed, as well as when it is reported or not reported. A person may use force, threats, manipulation, or coercion to commit sexual violence. The people who commit sexual violence can be people we know or strangers. However, it’s most often committed by someone we know and trust, such as a friend, acquaintance, coworker, or family member. It’s important to know that some forms of sexual violence are legally defined as crimes while others are not. This does not mean those experiences are any less real or harmful. It can however impact some legal options available to you. Sexual violence includes, but is not limited to: rape, sexual assault, incest, grabbing or groping someone’s breast, butt, or genitals, commercial sexual exploitation or doing sexual acts so that someone else can make money, sexual harassment, someone exposing themselves to you, someone watching you without your knowledge or consent, and being forced to make pornography.

Sexual Assault

For its Uniform Crime Reports, the FBI defines rape as: “Penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim."

Sexual assault is a term used to describe many gendered and sexualized crimes. Those definitions that vary from state to state. Kansas crimes statutes and their definitions can be found here.

Elements of consensual sexual activity include:

  • Both partners are old enough to consent
  • Both people have the capacity to consent; neither partner is incapacitated or unconscious
  • Consent was freely given (without coercion or manipulation) and can be retracted at any point in time
  • Consent is an on-going process
  • Consent can be communicated verbally and non-verbally
  • Consent cannot be inferred by previous consensual acts
  • Consent cannot be inferred by the absence of a “no”

As a survivor of sexual violence, you have options and rights.

Learn more about K-State's Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Violence, and Stalking.

Intimate Partner Violence

Dating violence is controlling, abusive, and aggressive behavior in a romantic relationship. It can happen in straight or gay relationships. It can include verbal, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, or a combination.*

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive and coercive behavior used to gain dominance, power, and control over an intimate partner. It includes the use of illegal and legal behaviors and tactics that undermine the victim’s sense of self, free will, and safety. Domestic violence is often used, in contrast to dating violence, when the intimate partners are living together or have children in common.

*Not all experiences of intimate partner violence will fall under K-State's Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Violence, and Stalking. If you've experienced any of the aforementioned forms of violence, you may access the CARE office for support and services.
(via National Center for Victims of Crime)
(via Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence)

Stalking

While legal definitions of stalking vary from one jurisdiction to another, a good working definition of stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. Stalking is serious, often violent, and can escalate over time. You are not to blame for a stalker’s behavior.

Some things stalkers do:

  • Follow you and show up wherever you are
  • Send unwanted gifts, letters, cards, or e-mails
  • Damage your home, car, or other property
  • Monitor your phone calls or computer use
  • Use technology, like hidden cameras or global positioning systems (GPS), to track where you go
  • Drive by or hang out at your home, school, or work
  • Threaten to hurt you, your family, friends, or pets
  • Find out about you by using public records or online search services, hiring investigators, going through your garbage, or contacting friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers
  • Posting information or spreading rumors about you on the Internet, in a public place, or by word of mouth
  • Other actions that control, track, or frighten you

Creating a safety plan for stalking is an important step in evaluating your options and level of risk. A Stalking Incident and Behavior Log (pdf) may help you to document any and all times that you felt threatened or fearful because of the behaviors of the individual(s) who is stalking you.

Learn more about K-State's Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Violence, and Stalking.

(via Stalking Resource Center)

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature in which submission to or rejection of such conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's work or school performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

Types of Sexual Harassment

  • Quid pro quo: when the perpetrator makes anything (getting a raise, obtaining housing, getting an certain grade in a course) contingent upon the victim providing sexual favors
  • Hostile environment: when unwelcome and persistent sexual conduct creates an uncomfortable and hostile environment for the victim

(via Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)

Learn more about K-State's Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Violence, and Stalking.