Sexual Assault

Being sexually assaulted simply means touching someone sexually without their consent. It could be kissing, cat calling, pressuring or manipulating a person to have sexual interactions against their will or even just touching. Sexual Assaults could be in any form. In this part of the world sexual assaults have a lot of misconceptions and myths. Some of which stating that men cannot be Sexually Assaulted as men enjoy being sexually touched/aroused. Also, that women who are sexually assaulted brought it upon themselves either through their provocative dressings, acts or speeches.

Assault does not necessarily involve physical force, it could be pressure, manipulation, bullying, intimidation, threats ,deception, alcohol or even drugs. Sexual Assaults are not spoken of well enough in its entirety. Once your partner touches you in any kind of way and you as a person is not comfortable with it or it was not consensual, it is NOT considered as sexual assault. Because he/she is your partner, it does not really count which is not supposed to be so.

There is a lot to be torch lighted regarding sexual assault that words would not really capture. There are people who have been sexually assaulted at one point or the other in their lives. In fact, there is a very high chance that every single person you talk to has a sexual assault story to tell. It really is that bad. People continue to ask questions like “why did you not shout?” “Why did you not voice out?” “Why did you not speak to someone?” some even go ahead to ask “why did you not fight back” forgetting or even being ignorant about The Trauma, the shock and even the stigma the unfortunate incident might have caused that might hinder them from speaking up. Mothers blaming their daughters for lack of modesty resulting in the unfortunate incident, society generally overlooking the fact that men can be sexually assaulted too.

Let us give an instance. Miss A has a crush on her unmarried boss at the office and her Boss feels the exact same way even though it is against work ethics. Miss A and let us say “Mr. A” start to text, get familiar with each other, exchange stares and smiles at work. basically giving each other green lights.

One day in his office, Mr. A want to touch her inappropriately but she politely declines as it is a work environment. Mr. A refuses to understand and f forcefully haves his way with her. In a situation like this society believes it IS consensual as they both liked each other. Which is not supposed to be. A firm No should always be respected. Both men and women should do better at understanding and respecting each other’s boundaries . because there is a mutual feeling of like or love does not in any way mean consent.  Most people have been sexually assaulted but do not even know they  have been or being sexually assaulted because society has normalized these things. They are mostly brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, friends and so on. They are always closer than expected.