Short definitions for terms used in our research pages and knowledge base. Each entry names the source so you can verify wording in the original material.
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- Sexual act directed against a person forcibly and/or against that person’s will, or not forcibly when the victim is
incapable of giving consent because of his/her temporary or permanent mental or physical incapability (Snyder,
2000).
- In the case of sexual abuse the aggressor wants the relationship while the victim is entirely rejecting it
Sexual battery refers specifically to non-consensual touching of a person’s intimate parts, either over or under clothing. It is a form of sexual assault and focuses on physical sexual contact without permission.
Sexual battery may not involve penetration, but it is still a serious violation of someone’s bodily autonomy and dignity.
Examples:
• Groping someone’s breasts, buttocks, or genitals without consent.
• Touching someone sexually while they are asleep or unable to respond.
• Forcing someone’s hand onto another person’s body.
Sexual battery is a criminal offence in South Africa and can result in arrest and prosecution.
Sexual coercion is pressuring, manipulating, or threatening someone into sexual activity without their free and voluntary consent. Unlike physical force, coercion often uses emotional pressure, guilt, intimidation, fear, or abuse of authority to remove real choice.
Sexual coercion can make a person feel like they “owe” sex, are responsible for the other person’s emotions, or will face consequences if they refuse. This can happen in relationships, schools, workplaces, or any situation with a power imbalance.
Sexual exploitation occurs when someone takes advantage of another person’s vulnerability, dependence, or lack of power for sexual benefit. It often involves an imbalance of power, such as age, money, authority, immigration status, or emotional control.
Sexual exploitation can include trafficking, grooming, sextortion, or exchanging sex for basic needs such as money, food, housing, protection, or opportunities.
Children can never consent to exploitation under any circumstances. If a child is involved in sexual activity in exchange for anything of value, it is exploitation and abuse, even if the child appears to “agree.”
Sexual exploitation is a serious violation of human rights and dignity
The act of engaging in sexual intercourse or performing other sex acts in exchange for money or other
considerations (e.g., food, clothing shelter, affection, etc.) (Estes and Weiner, 2001). “Forced Prostitution” is an
expression used in the case of controlling and forcing a person to engage in a sexual activity (UNHCR, 1994).
Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual behaviour, verbal, non-verbal, or physical, that makes someone feel unsafe, intimidated, humiliated, or uncomfortable.
It can include sexual comments, unwanted touching, repeated requests for dates, sending explicit messages, sharing sexual jokes, or spreading rumours about someone’s sexual life.
Sexual harassment can happen at school, work, home, in public spaces, or online. In South Africa, sexual harassment is illegal in workplaces and educational institutions, and employers and schools have a duty to respond to complaints.
Sexual harassment may not always involve physical contact, but it still violates dignity and safety.
- Unwanted abusive, intrusive, offensive, or coercive sexual propositions, language or innuendo towards another
person. It may involve a single severe event or a pattern of less severe events that continue despite an indication
that they are unwanted and/or offensive (National Center on Sexual Behavior of Youth, 2003). These behaviors
may be physical, verbal or hints or indications of sexual nature. This harassment can happen in public places,
work or family where the perpetrator considers himself/ herself in a position of power.
is an act that reformed and codifi ed the law relating to sex offences. It expanded the
defi nition of rape, previously limited to vaginal sex, to include all non-consensual penetration; and it equalised the age of
consent for heterosexual and homosexual sex at 16. The act provides various services to the victims of sexual offences,
including free post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV, and the ability to obtain a court order to compel HIV testing of the
alleged offender. It also created the National Register for Sex Offenders, which records the details of those convicted of
sexual offences against children or people who are mentally disabled.
Sexual penetration refers to acts involving vaginal, anal, or oral penetration, including the insertion of objects or body parts. Under South Africa’s Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act (2007), penetration is defined broadly and includes any degree of entry, however slight.
This legal definition is important in sexual offence cases, including rape, as it ensures that different forms of violation are recognised under the law.
A feeling of sexual excitement resulting from administering pain, suffering, or humiliation to another person.
The pain, suffering, or humiliation inflicted on the other is real; it is not imagined and may be either physical or
psychological in nature (American Psychiatric Association, DSM IV, 2000).
as set out in the Sexual Offences Amendment Act this refers to an act of sexual penetration or an act of
sexual violation.
Sexual aggression is defined as the offenders’ act to impose [their] sexual will over another, nonconsenting, person using behaviors such as threats, intimidation, drugs, or physical force. Sexual aggression may happen to any person regardless of [their] socioeconomic status, education, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and so forth.
A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing in all matters relating to the reproductive system and sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. For sexual and reproductive health to be attained and maintained, the sexual and reproductive health rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled. Sexual and reproductive health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence.
as set out in the Sexual Offences Amendment Act this refers (1) A person (‘A’) who unlawfully and
intentionally sexually violates a complainant (‘B’), without the consent of B, is guilty of the offence of sexual assault. (2)
A person (‘A’) who unlawfully and intentionally inspires the belief in a complainant (‘B’) that B will be sexually violated,
is guilty of the offence of sexual assault.
Sexual coercion is unwanted sexual activity that happens after being pressured in nonphysical ways that include:
Being worn down by someone who repeatedly asks for sex
Being lied to or being promised things that weren’t true to trick you into having sex
Having someone threaten to end a relationship or spread rumors about you if you don’t have sex with them
Having an authority figure, like a boss, property manager, loan officer, or professor, use their influence or authority to pressure you into having sex.
Other “methods of coercion used by perpetrators of sexual violence to exert power and aggression over victims/ survivors include: intimidation and threats; assaultive behaviour or physical force; the use of alcohol or other substances; the use of power imbalances created by social status, position or role, physical size/strength/ ability; persistent pressure to wear down the victim/survivor; and the exploitation of vulnerabilities.
In a healthy relationship, you never have to have sexual contact when you don’t want to. Sexual contact without your consent is assault. Sexual coercion means feeling forced to have sexual contact with someone
: the act of using pressure, force or other tactics or manipulation to have sexual contact with someone
against his or her will. This includes persistent attempts to have sexual contact with someone who has already
refused.
Sexual abuse of children and youth through the exchange of sex or sexual acts for drugs, food, shelter, protection, or other basics of life, and/or money. Sexual exploitation includes involving children and youth in creating pornography and sexually explicit websites.
Any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, and other forms of verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment can involve an abuse of power and is often used as a way of controlling or intimidating someone.
Takes the masochistic acts to an extreme and can result in severe bodily or psychologic harm and even death.
For example, masochistic sexual activity may involve asphyxiophilia, whereby the person is partially choked or
strangled (either by a partner or by the self-application of a noose around the neck). A temporary decrease in
oxygen to the brain at the point of orgasm is sought as an enhancement to sexual release, but the practice
may accidentally result in death (American Psychiatric Association, DSM IV, 2000).