Penetration is not the only form of sexual abuse recognized by the law as being a crime. There are many other categories.

Sexual abuse doesn’t always just refer to penetration. It may refer to sexual comments, unwanted touching, sexual favors, unintentional touching, sexual discrimination, and even marriage rape. Yes, there actually is such a thing as marriage rape. The key to all of these forms of sexual abuse happens to be power; the power the abuser feels they have over the victim. Whether the form of power happens to be emotional, legal or even financial, it will include an element of deception and violation of trust. This is a crime that reaches right down into a victims psyche and never comes out.

Unfortunately, statistics from around the country show that at least one out of every three women has been abused. It is one of the most common and yet most unreported crimes on the books. The fact is, just a shade fewer than 10% of those who have been abused ever actually report it. Why isn’t it reported? Sadly, no one says anything because either no one believes them or the cases turn out to be unsubstantiated. The major problem with sexual abuse cases is that many of them are based on "he said/she said" scenarios; often a recipe for legal disaster.

Sex abuse does not just happen to older women, it also happens to children. And when it comes to kids the things the abuser says to make them comply are threatening and sneaky; things like "If you tell anyone, I’ll hurt your mother really badly." Put another way, with sexual abuse involving kids, sex abuse is sex by extortion. It can also be sex by extortion when perpetrated on an older female; yet another reason why it is not reported. Who could handle physical or emotional violence?

Most of the work to prove a person has been abused rests with the accuser. This puts them in the precarious position of looking like they are creating a story out of thin air. This happens a lot when the accused seems to be the-guy-next-door kind of person who doesn’t seem or look like a pervert or act like one. Those who indulge in sexual abuse are people the victim knows and (used to) trust. Just what does a pervert look like anyhow? This is too stereotypical, and yet, it seems to still be what people think, and that may include a jury.

No matter what point of view you might come from in examining sexual abuse, the long and short of it is that it is abhorrent, illegal and must stop. The victim has rights – they did not invite the perpetrator to abuse them; they do not enjoy the experience; and above all, they do not want the abuse to continue. This applies whether the victim is a child or an adult.

Oddly enough, there are some strange points of view when it comes to sexual abuse. One of those viewpoints is the victim precipitation approach, and it says a woman asked for it. You may be familiar with this one if you’ve heard someone say things like "she shouldn’t dress like that or go out alone for a walk." Often the person who believes that thinks that "only" good looking, younger women are abused.

Opinion number two seems to be that sexual abuse happens because a family is dysfunctional. There are a whole lot of dysfunctional families, but that does not mean they sexually abuse family members. And then there is the oft mentioned theory that men can’t control their sexual urges. That is a load of baloney. They can and they do when it matters to them.

If you’re in a situation where you are being sexually abused against your will, speak to a skilled personal injury attorney. You have rights and the abuse can and will be stopped with the help of your attorney. Don’t wait any longer.