What is Intimate Partner Sexual Violence?

Any situation in which someone is forced to participate in unwanted, unsafe, or degrading sexual activity is sexual abuse. Sexual violence can happen between people who are married (legal or common law), living together, dating, divorced, or separated.   It is important to know that a sexual assault can occur in any type of intimate relationship, even if two people are legally married.

Sexual assault in an intimate relationship is not uncommon.  Research shows that 1 out of every 10 people will be sexually assaulted by an intimate partner in his or her lifetime,  and about 60% of people who experience domestic violence also experience sexual assault.   Sexual assault can also occur without other forms of violence in the relationship.   Individuals whose partners abuse them physically and sexually are at a risk of being seriously injured or killed.

Sometimes people are sexually assaulted by an intimate partner many times, over a period of many years.  An intimate partner may force someone to have sex with them by saying or doing things that makes their partner feel afraid, intimidated, or pressured to say yes.  A sexual assault can occur when a person is asleep, intoxicated, or otherwise unable to consent to the experience.  Some people have had positive sexual experiences with their partners in the past, and therefore may feel that rape or sexual assault is not possible. Forced sex, even by a spouse or intimate partner with whom they have had consensual sex, is an act of aggression and violence.

It is never someone’s duty or obligation to have sex with their partner, and the sexual violence is never their fault. In many cases, sexual assault in an intimate relationship is a crime.  Although it can be difficult to talk about the sexual violence, there are many resources available to support survivors of intimate partner sexual violence.