Resources & Education

Interpersonal violence is the use of force or power (threatened or actual) against a person or group with the intention to cause harm.  It includes sexual violence, partner violence, stalking, and harassment. At its core, is the dynamic of power and control.

Any form of unwanted, unwelcome, forceful, or coercive sexual contact, or any sexual contact that lacks consent. Can also be described by the terms rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse. 
Sexual violence may be perpetrated by anyone — stranger, intimate partner, family member, acquaintance, friend, etc.

Freely giving active permission for any and all sexual acts. Consent must be ongoing, specific to each act, reversible, and informed. Consent is not present within a relationship in which there is an imbalance of power. 

The Consent Is Tea video walks you through the question, “How do I know if they’re giving consent?” 

A pattern of controlling or coercive behavior by one person to maintain power and control over another in an intimate relationship. It can be physical, emotional, sexual, economic, or mental. It includes the use of intimidation, threats, and isolating behaviors. 

 
If there is no intervention, the violence or abuse may escalate over time, both in frequency and severity, as shown in the following cycle: 

Any conduct directed at a specific person that would cause reasonable fear, to include excessive and unwanted contact on social media, following, manipulation, vandalism, and threats. Stalking can be done by a stranger, but is more commonly done by a former or current partner.

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct/communication of a sexual nature made as a condition of someone’s educational or work status. Harassment creates a hostile, demeaning, or intimidating environment. It can come from anyone, though it is often from someone in a position of authority.

The facts about sexual violence may surprise you, but awareness can help you understand your situation, advise others, or you realize that you are not alone. 

• 1 in 5 women will be the victim of a sexual assault in their lifetime 

• Females aged 18–34 are at the highest risk of being a victim of sexual violence 

• 1 in 33 males report being victims of sexual violence 

• 1 in 7 men will be victims of severe partner violence in their lifetime 

• College males are 5X more likely than non-student males to experience sexual assault 

• More than 90% of sexual assault victims on college campuses do not report the assault. 

• More than 50% of college sexual assaults occur between August and November. 

• 21% of trans and gender non-binary college students have been sexually assaulted.  

• 84% of victims know their abuser. 

• 33% of sexual assault victims consider suicide. 

 
More statistics on Sexual Violence from RAINN 

More statistics on Domestic Violence from NCADV 

Consent is mandatory during sexual activity. If consent is not present during a sexual act, it is considered sexual assault.  Consent can be withdrawn at any time before or during sexual activity. 

Consent CANNOT be given when... 

• One or both parties is underage (each state's age of consent differs)  

• There is an imbalance of power; the perpetrator is in a supervisory or authoritative position 

• The perpetrator is a family member 

• One party was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or was otherwise incapacitated 

• One party was asleep 

• One party was cognitively impaired and did not understand what they were consenting to 

• One party was coerced, pressured, or gave in due to fear/threats 

Sexual violence can come in many forms. It affects people regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, religion, or race. 

Sexual assault looks like... 

• Fondling or unwanted sexual touching 

• Forcing one party to perform or receive sexual acts (such as oral sex)  

• Forced exposure to pornography or sexual acts 

• Penetration, or an attempt at penetration, with a body part or object 

• Any unwanted, unwarranted, and non-consensual sexual act, including sexual speech or making sexual implications  

It can be difficult to tell when a relationship has become unhealthy. A good indicator can be family and friends — often they can recognize red flags long before the person within the relationship can. If people are expressing fears or doubts about your relationship, be open-minded and try to understand why they have those feelings. 

 
Even if both partners are abusive to each other, it is still partner violence. Sometimes there is not one clear person at fault. Both parties may feel victimized and hurt by their partner. Unhealthy relationships often escalate. Rarely do they ever recover and repair themselves without intervention, or without one partner leaving.   

 
Red flags to look out for in a relationship include: 

• Extreme jealousy 

• Name-calling, put-downs, and dismissing a partner’s feelings 

• Forcing one partner to check-in, or demanding access to a partner’s private information (phone, social media accounts, etc.) 

• Dependence on one partner 

• Making threats to harm self, partner, or others 

• Hostility; aggressive body language, threatening looks 

• Physical violence 

• Sexual violence (includes unwanted penetration, guilting a partner into sex) 

• Withholding affection or sex as a form of punishment or retaliation