Sexual Assault Statistics By Effects, Child Assault, Effects On Society and Harassment In The Workplace

Introduction

Sexual Assault Statistics: Sexual assault is any sexual activity or contact that happens without your consent, including r@pe. It can also involve actions that don’t require physical contact like someone showing themselves to you or making you look at sexual pictures. This type of crime is often called sexual violence or abuse.

The legal definitions of sexual assault can vary slightly from one state to another. If you have been assaulted, remember that it is never your fault. We shall shed more light on Sexual Assault Statistics in this article.

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• Nearly 22% of women and 6.1% of men have experienced sexual violence since they turned 15.
• Of the women who faced sexual violence, 20% experienced sexual assault, and 5.5% faced sexual threats.
• Of the men who faced sexual violence, 5.1% experienced sexual assault, and 1.4% faced sexual threats.
• 1 in 6 women and 1 in 18 men have experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner they live with.
• 13% of women and 4.5% of men have faced sexual harassment.
• An estimated 8% of women who were sexually assaulted said the police were contacted about the latest incident, either by themselves or someone else.
• Most women (92%) who experienced sexual assault did not report it to the police.
• Most sexual assaults (69%) happened in homes, usually in private residences.
• Sexual Assault Statistics stated that almost 93% of sexual assaults did not involve a weapon.
• Almost 86% of sexual assault victims are female.
• 56% of victims were under 18 at the time of the incident.
• Around 65% of victims knew their attacker.
• More than one-third of sexual assaults occurred in situations of domestic or family violence.
• Roughly 34% of people believe it’s common for sexual assault claims to be used to “get back at men,” and 24% think allegations arise from women regretting consensual sex.
• 25% believe it’s hard for men to control their sexual behavior because they might not realize a woman doesn’t want to have sex once they are aroused.
• 8% believe if a females meet a man from a dating application, she shares some responsibility if he forces sex on her.
• 10% think that women often say “no” when they mean “yes.”
• 21% believe that if a woman sends a nude photo to her partner, she is partly responsible if he shares it without her permission.
• 10% think nonconsensual touching is acceptable because some women are very sexual in public.

What Does Sexual Assault Include?

Sexual assault includes:

• Any sexual contact with someone who cannot give consent, like a minor (as defined by state laws), a person with an intellectual disability, or someone unconscious from drugs or alcohol or unable to respond (like when sleeping).
• Any sexual contact with someone who does not agree.
• Attempted r@pe.
• Sexual coercion.
• Sexual contact with a child.
• Fondling or unwanted touching, either above or under clothes.

Sexual assault can also be verbal, visual, or non-contact. It includes anything that forces someone to engage in unwanted sexual activities or attention. Other examples are:

• Voyeurism (watching private sexual acts without permission).
• Exhibitionism (showing oneself in public).
• Sexual harassment or threats.
• Forcing someone to pose for sexual pictures.
• Sending unwanted sexual texts or “sexts” (text messages with sexual photos or messages).

Understanding these behaviors is important for recognizing and preventing sexual assault.

General Sexual Assault Statistics

• One in five women in the U.S. has faced completed or attempted r@pe at some point in their lives.
• About 25% (24.8%) of men in the U.S. have experienced some type of sexual violence.
• Nationwide, 81% of women and 43% of men have reported facing sexual harassment or assault during their lives.

(Reference: rainn.org)

• One in three women who were r@ped (completed or attempted) first experienced it between the ages of 11 and 17.
• About one in four men who were r@ped first experienced it in that same age range.
• In 2018, an estimated 734,630 people in the U.S. were victims of r@pe, including threatened, attempted, or completed cases.
• The rate of false reporting for sexual assault is low, estimated to be between 2% and 10%.
• As per Sexual Assault Statistics, 1 in 2 r@pes against females are done by their ex-partner or their partner.
• Sexual Assault Statistics stated that almost 91% of the public prosecuted for sexual abuse are males that are under 18 years old.
• Less than 3 in 100 r@e cases recorded by police between April 2023 and March 2024 have resulted in someone being punished in the same year.
• Nearly one in four undergraduate women experienced sexual assault or misconduct at 33 major universities.
• Around 51.1% of female r@pe victims were attacked by an intimate partner and 40.8% by someone they knew.
• Sexual Assault Statistics states that 6 in 7 r@pes against females are done by someone they already know.
• After being reported to the police, adult r@pe cases take an average of 2 years to finish in court, and many take much longer.
• Currently, there are 10,141 sexual offense cases waiting to go to court, which is a record high.
• Sexual Assault Statistics state that five out of six women who are r@ped do not report it, and the same is true for four out of five men.
• Many survivors tell someone else about what happened. So, why don’t they report it to the police?

#1. 40% said they felt “embarrassed.”

#2. 38% said they didn’t believe the police could help.

#3. 34% said they thought it would be humiliating.

• There are also 2,786 adult r@pe cases pending, setting another record.
• For male victims, over half (52.4%) were r@ped by someone they were acquainted with, and 15.1% by a stranger.
• The estimated lifetime cost of r@pe is $122,461 per victim.
• One in four women has been r@ped or at least assaulted sexually as an adult in 6.54 million women in all in the United States.
• 1 in 6 kids has faced sexual abuse, as per Sexual Assault Statistics.
• 1 in 18 men have also faced sexual abuse and r@ped as an adult, from 1.34 million in total.
• Nine out of ten girls and young women in schools report that they experience sexist name-calling and receive unwanted sexual images, like “dick pics,” or know others who do.

(Source: rainn.org)

• Police have reported 67,928 rapes between April 2023 and March 2024.
• Till the end of March 2024, the punishment has been brought in only 2.6% of the recorded rape cases.
• One in two adult survivors of rape has experienced it more than once, which adds up to about 798,000 people. That means one in 30 women has likely been raped or sexually assaulted in the last year.
• Also, one in three adults who are raped experience it in their own homes. This is why telling women not to walk home alone at night won’t solve the problem of sexual violence.

Effect of R@pe on Victim Statistics

• The chance of having suicidal or depressive thoughts increases after experiencing sexual violence.
• 94% of women who are r@ped show symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the first two weeks after the incident.
• 30% report PTSD symptoms nine months later.
• Sexual Assault Statistics stated that around 33% of women who are r@ped think about suicide.
• 13% attempt suicide.
• About 70% of r@pe or sexual assault victims feel moderate to severe distress, which is higher than for any other violent crime.
• Survivors of sexual assault are also more likely to use drugs compared to the general population:

#1. 4 times more likely to use marijuana

#2. Six times more likely to use cocaine

Ten times more likely to use other major drugs

(Source: washingtonpost.com)

• Sexual violence can affect victims’ relationships with family, friends, and coworkers:
• 38% of victims have problems at work or school, such as conflicts with bosses or peers.
• Sexual Assault Statistics stated that 37% experience issues with family and friends, including more arguments and a lack of trust.
• 79% of those victimized by a family member or close friend report similar problems.
• About 80,600 inmates face sexual violence each year while in prison or jail.
• 60% of all sexual violence against inmates is carried out by jail or prison staff.
• More than 50% of the sexual contact between inmates and staff is nonconsensual, which means it is illegal.
• 67% of survivors attacked by a stranger also experience professional or emotional difficulties.
• In the chart below, we can see the Psychiatric comorbidities and suicidality between the children and the adolescent group with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with and without sexual abuse.

(Reference: psychiatrist.com)

• In the following table, we shall study the multivariate logistic regression analysis for suicidality:

• Victims are also at risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs):

1. Studies suggest that the chance of getting pregnant from one-time, unprotected intercourse is between 3.1% and 5%, depending on factors like timing and contraceptive use.
2. About 250,000 r@pes and sexual assaults occur against females of childbearing age each year, leading to an estimated 7,750 to 12,500 pregnancies resulting from r@pe annually in the U.S. This is a rough estimate, and actual numbers may vary.

Child Sexual Assault Statistics

• Before the age of 18, 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused.
• Sexual Assault Statistics state that before the age of 18, 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused.
• Before the age of 18, 1 in 5 children are sexually approached while using the internet.

(Source: rainn.org)

• Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including those against adults) happen to children aged 17 and under.
• The average age for reported child abuse is nine years old.
• 85% of child abuse victims never tell anyone about their abuse.
• Sexual Assault Statistics stated that a family member abuses 30-40% of victims.
• 50% are abused by someone outside the family whom they know and trust.
• Signs of sexual abuse in children aren’t always obvious, and many kids do not report what happened to them. Young victims might not even realise they have been abused.
• Nearly 70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims, and at least 20% have 10 to 40 victims.
• An average serial child molester may have up to 400 victims over their lifetime.

(Reference: uwjoshuacenter.org)

• Nearly 50% of women in prison say they were abused as children.
• Over 75% of serial rapists report being sexually abused as kids.
• How a victim’s family reacts to the abuse is very important in how the experience affects the child.
• Kids who keep the abuse a secret or who tell someone and are not believed are at higher risk for emotional, social, and physical problems that can last into adulthood.
• Women who report childhood r@pe are three times more likely to become pregnant before age 18. Today, there are an estimated 42 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse in the United States.

Sexual Assault Effects on Society Statistics

• Over 80% of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows, like relatives, teachers, religious leaders, or ex-spouses.
• Because of these close relationships, many victims feel pressured or embarrassed to report what happened.
• Almost 95% of child victims are familiar with their attacker.
• In 2020, 93.98% of child victims in the U.S. knew the person who assaulted them.
• In most cases, the child had spent a lot of time with the attacker before the assault.
• The rate of false r@pe claims in the U.S. is less than 10%.

(Reference: enterpriseappstoday.com)

• About 81% of women and 43% of men have faced some type of sexual harassment or assault in their lifetime, averaging 62% for both genders.
• Sexual Assault Statistics show that 77% of women and 34% of men have experienced verbal sexual harassment, which totals 55.5% overall.
• The reported rate of cyber sexual harassment is 31.5%. Of those affected, 41% of women and 22% of men have experienced it.
• The total rates of physical sexual harassment and sexual assault are 44% and 17%, respectively.
• Among these cases, 62% of women and 26% of men have encountered physical sexual violence, while 27% of women and 7% of men have experienced sexual assault.
• While some false claims do occur, most reports of sexual assault are true. In 2023, around 6.9% of r@pe claims were found to be false.
• Sexual assaults cost the U.S. billions of dollars every year. This includes the expenses of providing sexual assault services, the loss of educational opportunities for victims, and the lost income of those unable to work due to trauma.
• The total cost is over $450 billion each year and is increasing by an average of 1.8% annually.
• Sexual Assault Statistics stated that 69% of r@pe victims in the U.S. are women aged 12 to 34.
• Statistics for 2022 showed an increase in sexual violence compared to 2018, with this age group being the most affected.
• Transgender college students are 5% more likely to experience sexual assault than other students.
• In 2023, 23% of transgender students reported being at risk, compared to 18% of non-transgender students.
• Bisexual women are more than twice as likely to be victims of r@pe compared to straight women.
• In 2022, 46% of bisexual women reported experiencing sexual assault, while only 17% of straight women reported the same.
• Bisexual men also faced similar risks, with 47% experiencing sexual violence compared to 21% of heterosexual men.
• The majority of r@pe victims, about 90%, are female. This includes adult victims; if juvenile victims were included, the total would be 82%.
• An American is sexually assaulted every 93 seconds, as per Sexual Assault Statistics.
• On average, there are about 325,566 victims of r@pe and sexual assault aged 12 or older in the U.S. each year.
• People with disabilities are twice as likely to be victims of r@pe and sexual assault compared to those without disabilities. Those with cognitive disabilities face even higher risks.
• Girls and women aged 16 to 19 are four times more likely to be assaulted than those in other age groups. Many victims are attacked while at home, traveling, or working.
• 1 in 6 American women will experience attempted or completed sexual assault in their lifetime.
• This rate has doubled in the last five years, and similar trends are expected to continue.
• 1 in 33 American men (about 3% of women) will also experience attempted or completed r@pe, which has increased by 22.4% in the last five years.
• For every 1,000 r@pes in the U.S., 995 perpetrators go unpunished. Many victims do not report the assault, which leads to most attackers not facing any consequences.

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Statistics

• 50% of all workplace harassment complaints are about sexual harassment. (Hiscox)
• 56% of employees have seen or experienced sexual harassment at work. (TLNT)
• Over 80% of people surveyed reported experiencing verbal harassment. About 44% faced unwanted physical contact or sexual advances, and around 25% received at least one sexually explicit email or text from a coworker or boss.

(Reference: inspiredelearning.com)

• Sexual Assault Statistics stated that almost 38% of women said they had faced sexual harassment at work.
• Nearly 1 in 3 working women under 35 have experienced sexual harassment at work at least once, with about 1 in 10 saying their harasser was a woman.
• Among women who experienced harassment, 13% were harassed by other women, while men harassed 97%.
• Of men who faced harassment, 68% were targeted by women and 57% by other men.
• 1 in 17 sexual harassment complaints to the EEOC also included claims of racial discrimination.
• 68% of LGBT individuals reported being victims of harassment.
• 71% of female restaurant workers experienced harassment at least once during their jobs, with 44% targeted by someone in management. (One Fair Wage
• 41% of victims were women and 22% were men. (Marker Medium)
• 15% of female educators and 6% of male educators faced harassment or assault.
• 58% of harassed nurses said their abusers were patients, and 19% said they were the patients’ family or friends.
• 41% of female tech founders reported sexual harassment, compared to 12% of male founders.
• Men were twice as likely to face homophobia, and 11% of female founders reported being stalked, while no male founders did.
• Almost someone in a higher position targeted 75% of harassment victims. 57% of employees left their jobs because of a manager.
• 23% of female victims said their harasser influenced their job.
• The pandemic did not stop harassment; it just moved online. 23% of women reported more online harassment during the pandemic.
• 45% of women victims faced harassment remotely, such as through emails, texts, social media, or video calls.

(Reference: etactics.com)

• 29% of women said the pandemic negatively affected how incidents were handled.
• Sexual Assault Statistics stated that almost 85% of employees know how to report issues. 67% go to their managers, but only 37% report to HR. 6% use hotlines.
• Over 70% of women who experience sexual harassment at work do not report it.
• On average, 87% to 94% of people do not file complaints.

(Reference: jobera.com)

• Of the 64% of employees who reported incidents, only half saw their issue investigated, and 27% were unsure if it was ever looked into.
• Concerns raised by men are 26% more likely to be investigated.
• 56% of men believe that workplace harassment goes unpunished, and 95% of male harassers do not face the consequences, according to women who reported incidents.
• Among nurses who experience harassment, men are less likely to report it: only 17% of men do, compared to 29% of women.
• 71% of harassment charges in 2017 included claims of retaliation.
• Sexual Assault Statistics stated that almost 98% of harassed women experience at least one incident of retaliation.

Conclusion

In summary, r@pe, sexual violence, and sexual assault are serious issues that occur in every country. Even in developed nations, people of all genders still face these problems. If we claim to live in a culturally rich society, then these actions should not happen at all. While men and women are supposed to be treated equally, many women and some men still suffer from sexual harassment.

Everyone—whether young or old, male or female—should feel safe walking in their neighborhoods, going to work, attending events, and returning home. We need to work towards a safer world for everyone. We have shed enough light on Sexual Assault Statistics through this article.