Sexual abuse is any form of sexual violence, including rape, child molestation, and similar forms of non-consensual sexual contact. Most sexual abuse experts agree that sexual abuse is never only about sex. Instead, it is an attempt to gain power over victims.

Types of Sexual Assault and Abuse

Sexual abuse is common, particularly for women and girls: Ninety percent of all rapes are committed against women, with 1 in 6 women experiencing rape. One in five girls and one in 20 boys experience childhood sexual abuse. Sexual abuse and sexual assault are umbrella terms used to refer to a number of sexual crimes. These crimes include:

• Rape: Forced sexual contact with someone who does not or cannot consent. Forcing sex upon someone who does not want it, who is intoxicated, or who is not legally old enough to give consent all constitute rape. Though a handful of states specifically define rape as forcible sexual intercourse, any form of forcible sexual contact can have long-lasting effects on the victim, and most states now recognize forced oral sex and similar forms of assault as rape.
• Child molestation: Child molestation is any sexual contact with a child. Many children who are molested are too young to know what is happening and may not fight back. Some abusers use the child’s cooperation in these cases as “evidence” that no one was harmed. Examples of child molestation might include fondling or demanding sexual favors from a child.
• Sexual assault: Non-consensual sexual contact with another person. Sexual assault includes behavior such as groping and any unwanted sexual touching. Attempted rape also falls into the category of sexual assault.
• Other forms of sexual abuse: Not all sexual abuse fits neatly into common legal or psychological definitions. For instance, parents who have sex in front of their children or who make sexually inappropriate comments to their children are engaging in sexual abuse. So-called revenge pornography sites, which publish nude photos of victims without their consent, are another form of sexual abuse.

Sexual violence, including rape, harassment, and other forms of sexual assault, occurs in the United States military in high numbers: In 2014, nearly 5% of all women and 1% of all men on active duty reported experiencing at least one instance of sexual assault. However, sexual violence among service members is an under-reported crime, partially due to the retaliation and/or blame faced by many of the victims who do report the crime, and it is estimated that only one in four victims of military sexual assault report their attacks.