4.1 Key Definitions
Defining Sexual Violence
We begin with the definition of sexual violence itself. This definition is from the University of Waterloo’s Policy 42: Prevention of, and Response to Sexual Violence.
Sexual Violence means:
- any sexual act or acts targeting a person’s sexuality, gender identity or gender expression,
- whether the act is physical or psychological in nature,
- that is committed, threatened, or attempted against a person without a person’s consent,
- and includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent exposure, voyeurism, and sexual exploitation.
Sexual violence is a crime that is committed and experienced by people of all genders, gender identities and sexual orientations. Watch this short (under 2 minutes) video from Break the Silence Nova Scotia which defines sexual violence further.
When someone engages in sexually violent behaviour, they are disregarding the needs, boundaries, autonomy or another person or person(s) and are choosing to act in their own self interest.
Key Definitions
Gender-based Violence
Gender-based violence encompasses many forms of violence, including sexual violence. According to the federal government gender-based violence (GBV) is violence based on gender norms and unequal power dynamics, perpetrated against someone based on their gender, gender expression, gender identity, or perceived gender. It takes many forms including physical, economic, sexual, spiritual, as well as emotional (psychological) abuse. It may also take the form of online or technology-facilitated violence.
Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is an act in which one intentionally sexually touches another person without that person’s consent, or coerces or physically forces, a person to engage in a sexual act against their will.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment means engaging in any unwanted conduct, comment, or attention of a sexual nature.
Examples of sexual harassment – inappropriate gestures; whistling; catcalling; staring; barking; following; demands to dress in a certain way; repeatedly asking someone out after they have said no; sexual jokes; groping; rubbing; public exposure; public masturbation; being asked for a sexual favour for a promotion or job; starting rumors; slut shaming; homophobic and/or transphobic comments; comments about appearance or identity.
Cyber Sexual Harassment
Cyber sexual harassment is the engagement of any unwanted conduct, comment or attention of a sexual nature that occurs online, such as in an online platform (e.g., Discord, Instagram, Tik Tok, Snapchat) or in an online video game.
Someone does not have to object for the conduct, comment, or attention to be considered unwanted.
Sexual harassment and cyber sexual harassment disproportionately affect girls, women, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and 2SLGBTQIA+ folks.
Stalking (Criminal Harassment)
Stalking is a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or any other course of conduct, directed at a specific person that causes discomfort and/or fear.
Some examples of stalking – showing up at a person’s home, work, or social activities uninvited; leaving notes, presents or flowers; physically following a person; calling/messaging all the time; harassing a person’s friends/family to get information about them.
Cyber Stalking refers to the use of the Internet and other technologies to harass and stalk a person online.
Examples of stalking often involve: cyber stalking as well which refers to the use of the Internet and other technologies to harass and stalk a person online.
Examples of cyber stalking can include: joining the same groups and forums; sending rude and/or threatening emails/messages; using the Internet to get personal information about a person
In the video Outside of the Shadows: A Project in Criminal Harassment in Canada, Julia Lalonde describes her experience being stalked and provides relevant information and ways to support someone being stalked.
Indecent Exposure
Indecent Exposure is the deliberate act of exposing private parts of the body (e.g. penis, vulva, breasts) in an offensive manner in a public place.
Examples could include: sending nude pics or videos to someone without their consent, unsolicited ‘dick pics’, flashing your genitals to someone in a public place.
Voyeurism
Voyeurism is the practice of gaining sexual pleasure from watching others without their consent when they are naked or engaged in sexual activity.
Sexual Exploitation
Sexual exploitation is an act, or acts, committed through non-consensual abuse or exploitation of another person’s sexuality for the purpose of sexual gratification, financial gain, personal benefit or advantage, or any other non-legitimate purpose.
Stealthing
Stealthing is the act of deliberately removing a condom during sex without the partners knowledge or consent. It is considered sexual assault.
Survivor
A survivor is someone who has been harmed in a sexual way – a survivor can be a person of any gender. Some people may use the language of victim instead of survivor, however calling someone a survivor can return their power and autonomy, whereas calling someone a victim can take away their power and autonomy. Not everyone will agree with this choice of language or feel it adequately represents their experience. Everyone has the right to identify as they choose, they also have the right to change how they identify over time or in different situations.
Perpetrator
A perpetrator is someone who has caused harm in a sexual way – a perpetrator can be a person of any gender; however, most sexual violence occurs by straight, cis-gender men against women, gender non-conforming, trans and non-binary folks.
Sexual Consent
Sexual consent is often referred to simply as consent. It is permission for something to happen, an agreement to do something sexual (e.g. kissing; hugging; touching body parts; anal, oral, vaginal sex), and is needed every time you engage in a different or new sexual act (every time, for every type of activity). The easiest and clearest way to obtain consent is by asking.
Without consent, sexual activity is sexual assault, and it is against the law.