Abstract
Sexual assault is universal in human societies throughout recorded history. It changes lives forever, but not necessarily for the worse. More women are victimized and most perpetrators are men, but sexual assault does not respect intersections of identity and in fact inflicts the most extreme burden on marginalized people of all kinds. This chapter is an overview of sexual assault that attempts a global scope as understood through contemporary scholarship. The conceptual models guiding the presentation are drawn primarily from public health and psychology. The public health model is a useful framework for reviewing sexual assault using a temporal sequence and a multidimensional approach, rather than the criminal justice model that focused on the response to perpetration or victimization. Following this temporal sequence, the topics addressed in this chapter include definitions; measurement; prevalence; risk and vulnerability factors; impact on victims; emergency medical and forensic response; psychological services; community-based services; primary prevention; and models for coordinating an integrated system. The chapter concludes with a strategy for moving forward, guided by the voices of victims and the involvement of communities. Each section attempts to acknowledge historic and current injustices against many groups, particularly women, which challenge initiatives to prevent and respond to sexual assault. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
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