Research glossary

refers to evidence of the allegations that, on face value, appears to be enough to convict

having sex with many partners
Protection order: a document issued by the court
which prevents the rapist from contacting or
approaching you in any way

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).

Use of words or actions to control or frighten a family member or intimate partner, or to lower their self-respect and self-esteem. It includes, but is not limited to insults, belittling, constant humiliation, intimidation, threats to harm, threats to take away children, harm or threats to harm pets.

a person qualified to study the
mind and human behaviour, and to help people
who have problems with mental functioning,
attitudes and behaviour

the hair that grows around sexual organs

a lawyer employed by the
State to take charge of court cases against people
accused of crimes such as rape

Formerly derogatory slang term used to identify LGBT people. Some members of the LGBT community have embraced and reinvented this term as a positive and proud political identifier when speaking among and about themselves.

Rape is sexual penetration without consent. Consent must be freely given and can be withdrawn at any time.
Rape can occur even if the survivor did not fight back, knew the perpetrator, was intoxicated, froze during the assault, or cannot remember everything that happened. If someone did not freely consent, it is rape.

Under South Africa’s Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007, rape is defined as any act of sexual penetration without consent. The Act also recognises marital rape and compelled rape as crimes. In South Africa, rape is a serious criminal offence and can carry a life sentence, depending on the circumstances.

For more information on medical care, reporting, and support after rape, visit our Survivor Guides for more information and resources.

Rape culture refers to social attitudes and behaviours that normalise, excuse, or minimise sexual violence.
It appears through victim-blaming, not believing survivors, excusing perpetrators, making rape jokes, or asking what the survivor “did wrong.”

Rape culture makes it harder for survivors to report and get justice

Many prevailing societal attitudes justify, tolerate, normalize and minimize sexual violence against women and girls. While often subtle, these persistent attitudes are integrated with and rooted in rape myths, stereotypes, and oppressive beliefs. This phenomenon is popularly referred to as ‘rape culture'.

Rape culture impacts various groups of women differently. For instance, while influencing all of us, rape culture sets up some groups as more likely to be targeted for sexual violence and to be disbelieved or blamed for the violation they experience (e.g., women of colour, impoverished women, women living with disabilities, trans-identified women and other women)

an incident reported to the police that is defi ned by the police in terms of the Sexual Offences Act as a
rape matter. This includes sections 15/16 of the Sexual Offences Act, i.e. ‘consensual’ sexual penetration of a minor or
person unable to give consent.

Rape is an act of power and control, in which the victim is humiliated, degraded, and left with feelings of shame, guilt, and anger. The Criminal Code of Canada does not specifically define ‘rape’ in terms of specific acts. The crime of sexual assault is codified within the general assault provision , which makes it a crime to intentionally apply force to another person without their consent.”

Date rape or acquaintance rape refers to a “sexual assault that happens between acquaintances or ‘friends’ or between people who are dating. Some studies tracing the changing usages of this term have noted that date rape may also “refer specifically to the sexual assault of a woman after a drug had been slipped into her drink.

- A form of sexual assault, involving illegal sexual intercourse with a person against that person’s will/consent.
Typically involves sexual penetration without consent including sexual penetration obtained by force, threat or
incapacitation, or sexual penetration of someone who is unable to give consent, such as a younger child or
incompetent person (National Center on Sexual Behavior of Youth, 2003). However, the most commonly used
definition of rape is the imposition of sexual assault on someone against his will, through the use of violence,
force, threat to harm or other forms of coercion, or in the case of the victim's incapacity to refuse if under the
influence of alcohol or drugs. When an effort is placed to rape someone without penetration, this is called an
attempted rape. Rape is a judicial definition that differs according to the laws in different countries.

an incident reported to the police that is defi ned by the police in terms of the Sexual Offences Act as a rape
(including attempted rape). This includes sections 15 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act i.e. ‘consensual’ sexual
penetration of a minor or person unable to give consent.

According to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offenses and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007[2], rape is the unlawful and intentional sexual penetration of a person by another without consent. The Act defines 'sexual penetration' as including the oral, anal or vaginal penetration of a person (male or female, regardless of age) with a genital organ; anal or vaginal penetration with any object or any part of the body of an animal, or the penetration of a person's mouth with the genital organs of an animal.

Rape is an act of non-consensual sexual intercourse. This can include the invasion of any part of the body with a sexual organ and/or the invasion of the genital or anal opening with any object or body part. Rape and attempted rape involve the use of force, threat of force and/or coercion. Efforts to rape someone that do not result in penetration are considered attempted rape.

Relational or social aggression is defined as intentionally harming another person’s social relationships. Relational aggression is typically covert and indirect. Examples can include shunning, excluding, ignoring, gossiping, rumour spreading, or disclosing another person’s secret. Relational aggression is different from other forms of bullying in that most bullying occurs outside the peer group while relational aggression occurs within the peer group. However, it is similar because it can be repeated, aggressive, harassing, and severe.

Repeat victimization refers to the repeated criminal victimization of a person, household, place, business, vehicle or other target however defined. Near repeat victimization or near repeats refer to targets with similar characteristics or situations (also virtual repeats). Repeats can be the same or different crime types. It is generally accepted that a small proportion of any population of potential targets experience a vastly disproportionate amount of the crime because they are repeatedly victimized… The significance for many policy purposes, but particularly crime prevention, is that a focus upon repeats can greatly increase the efficiency with which resources are used. Most repeat victimization research relates to how it can be prevented, so crime prevention is the backdrop for much of this bibliography.

A person who has authority or power denies you something important, punishes or threatens you for refusing a sexual request, or for [disclosing] inappropriate sexual behaviour or comments.