Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. Every year there are an average of 463,634 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault in the United States.
Unfortunately, there seems to be no end of news about high profile cases of sexual assault, including Hollywood director James Toback ordered to pay $1.7 billion to 40 accusers, rapper Soulja Boy ordered to pay his female accuser $4.25 million in a sexual assault civil trial, plus charges against NFL hopeful Isaiah Bond.
It is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the movement gained momentum in the late 2017 with the #MeToo movement and the notorious case of Harvey Weinstein-– who was back in court recently with a request to stay in the hospital awaiting his retrial. Sexual assault is broadly defined as any non-consensual sexual act that occurs through force, coercion, manipulation, or when the victim is unable to give consent in a wide stretch of circumstances.
Overcoming the taboo is essential to end sexual assault in all these contexts.
“Stranger danger” has been the precaution and preventative approach to sexual assault for generations. The long-time narrative is that strangers are the main danger prevailed for decades. It is still important to be aware of unknown environments and strangers but when the numbers shows that 8 out of 10 rapes are committed by a person known by the victim, it leads the community to rethink their world.
That means that people they trust could become an assailant. That cognitive dissonance is hard to process and frightening.
In family-related sexual assault or incest, the perpetrator could be a biological parent, stepparent, foster family, sibling, or even uncle or cousin. Victims may struggle with feelings of guilt or shame and may be reluctant to come forward due to the fear of disrupting family dynamics.
In child sexual abuse, children are often sexually abused by individuals they trust. This could be a family friend, a neighbor, or someone in a position of authority like a teacher or sports coach. Nationwide, in the children maltreatment report for federal fiscal year 2023, data shows almost 10 percent of duplicate victims experienced sexual abuse.
Intimate partner sexual assault, including domestic violence, happens when a partner or spouse sexually assaults the other in an intimate relationship. It can include marital rape, coercion, or other forms of sexual violence. The National Crime Victimization Survey of 2023 shows that there were 629,820 of intimate partner violence victimizations.
Sexual assault in caregiving relationships can be committed by a caregiver, nurse, doctor, or home health aide. In cases involving older adults or people with disabilities, the caregiver might exploit their power or authority, taking advantage of their dependence. While pre-pandemic sources estimated approximately one in 10 Americans age 60+ have experienced some form of elder abuse, during the pandemic it increased to 1 to 5 Americans.
Authority figures such as an employer, supervisor, teacher, police officer, therapist or religious leader commit sexual assault. These are people who hold power over a person—whether in the workplace, educational setting, or within a religious contex. Victims may feel pressured to comply due to fear of retaliation or loss of job, grades, or status within the community.
Acquaintance rape is sexual assault by a friend, classmate, coworker, neighbor or social media contact. In the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey of 2010, female victims of rape reported being raped 40.8% by an acquaintance; for male victims, more than half (52.4%) reported being raped by an acquaintance.
Military rape is assault by fellow service members including commanding officers, supervisors, peers. The Department of Defense Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military for fiscal year 2023 shows 6.8% of active duty women and 1.3 percent of active duty men indicated experiencing unwanted sexual contact.
Victims may also face additional pressures like the stigma of being seen as weak or unfit for duty. Women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and minority service members are particularly vulnerable to military sexual trauma.
College campuses are a setting where sexual assaults often occur, particularly at parties or social gatherings. The perpetrator could be a peer, someone from the same class, a teammate, or even someone in a position of power within the university, such as a faculty member.
Sexual assault in higher education shows that among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males reported experiencing rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.
One of the main issues in sexual assault is that the victim is betrayed by the offender. The assault by someone who was once trusted can be devastating, as research shows psychological and physical injuries can scar the victim for life.
If the offender is well-connected in the community, the victim’s report can backfire. Due to fear of retaliation, lack of confidence in the judicial system, shame, and victim-blaming, the survivor may stay silent.
In the current era of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) defunding necessary services, and the looming funding cuts of Victim Of Crime Act (VOCA) for fiscal year 2025-2026, the power to fight sexual assault lies within our communities.
The solution to sexual assault can begin with engaging communities through education, awareness campaigns, and active bystander training to create a culture that recognizes, prevents, and responds to sexual assault.
Strengthening economic opportunities and support systems, especially for vulnerable populations, is critical to reduce dependency and power imbalances that can lead to exploitation and abuse.
Enhancing a protective environment means fulfilling the need to design safer public and private spaces through better lighting, secure facilities, clear policies, and community monitoring to deter potential perpetrators and ensure swift action when needed.
By standing together — survivors, advocates, lawmakers, and community members — can push for the restoration of VOCA funding and reaffirm our commitment to a society that refuses to leave its most vulnerable behind. Let this moment not be one of despair, but of action. Because when we choose to protect and uplift survivors, we are building a safer, more just future for all.
If you are in need of assistance, contact National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org y rainn.org/es).