Following the scandalous sentence passed on the trial of five men who sexually assaulted a young woman, a large part of the population has been shocked, thus generating a social debate on sexual violence and how a reform of the criminal code would be fundamental.

It becomes more necessary than ever to be clear about the meaning of sexual violence and the nature of the type of acts of which it is composed.

What is sexual violence?

The concept of sexual violence refers to a traumatic experience in relation to sexual activity maintained by two or more persons where there is no consent by one of the persons involved. This term encompasses three types of violence.

1. Sexual harassment

Firstly, sexual harassment is usually carried out verbally, through messages, calls or through coercion and blackmail, that is, the use of psychological violence . The aggressor pressures and intimidates the victim with the aim of getting the other person to have sex. For example, in the work environment, a person coerces another person to have sex because otherwise he will lose his job.

2. Sexual abuse

Another type of sexual violence we encounter is sexual abuse. This term refers to any action that forces a person, male or female, to engage in sexual behavior that they do not want to do or keep. In other words, the aggressor, whether male or female, assumes the freedom to access the body of another person without that person’s consent , and there is no authorization of the sexual activity by one of the parties.

3. Sexual assault

Finally, sexual assault consists of accessing the victim’s body, without consent, and using direct violence as a way of reaching sexual activity. The most serious form of sexual aggression is through penetration.

Beyond physical pain

As can be seen, the sentence of the aggressor can vary depending on the type of sexual violence used. One of the main differences between the three types is the use of physical violence. However, as we know physical violence is not the only form of violence that exists and as its name indicates, in the different types we are under a case of sexual violence.

Perhaps part of the debate that has been opened up in recent days should be focused here, and not the use of physical violence as the determining factor in a greater or lesser sentence, but the act itself, the simple fact of restricting someone’s sexual freedom, should be condemned.

The sentence issued states that there is no physical violence, as the victim admits that he chose not to resist. Perhaps there are no visible blows or wounds, but the non-consensual penetration by five men into a woman, the coercion over sexual freedom and of course the emotional damage and the subsequent psychological consequences are more than enough.

Why are we sometimes unable to defend ourselves in the face of a threat?

One of the reproaches made to the victim is that he did not object at the time of the sexual act . This behaviour, from a psycho-biological point of view, has a survival function when we are faced with a threat of a different nature.

In our brain we have an extremely powerful sensor, known as amygdala, which will be the internal alarm that warns us that there is an external or internal threat, since it is one of the areas in charge of fear. When our alarm is activated our body will prepare to face that threat, that is, we prepare to give a fight or flight response. I get a great discharge of adrenaline will appear in the body participating in this response. At the same time, the areas in charge of decision making are inhibited, anesthetized, due to stress chemicals.

Therefore, the person is in a state of hyperactivation, that is, all his alarm systems are activated, resulting in a total inability to make decisions , so it will be our nervous system that decides in an instinctive way promoting our survival.

In the face of very serious threats, panic, trauma and crisis situations, where the situation is beyond us and we do not have the necessary resources, our brain automatically switches off. This phenomenon is known as dissociation , protecting us from emotional pain and suffering. In this state there is a relative absence of sensations, freezing of emotions or reduction of physical movements. Being the defence less active, we will not try to run away, we will not be able to say no. It will be our brain that speaks for us and the person will act automatically.

What are the psychological and emotional consequences of sexual abuse?

These are some of the usual consequences of experiences linked to sexual abuse.

PTSD

A Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can occur whose symptoms are related to nightmares where you relive what happened. Appearance of flashbacks where memory appears in a very invasive way, negative thoughts, and mood alterations.

2. Appearance of feelings of guilt and shame

The victim has the false belief that what happened could have been avoided if he had acted differently.

Fear of speaking

Inability of the victim to tell what happened because of fear of rejection .

4. Depressive feelings

Sometimes you even develop an emotional disorder.

5. Insulation

Social isolation can occur either because of shame, fear or distrust of others .

6. Self-harm

Use of self-injurious behavior as a way to calm the emotional damage suffered or even the appearance of suicidal behavior

7. Drug use

Substance abuse as a way of isolating oneself and not thinking about what happened as a way of calming all the emotional damage.

8. Decreased self-esteem

All this leaves a mark on the self-concept.

Reliving the trauma

It is important to take into account the revictimization that occurs in the victim generated by institutions, media and professionals . Certain initiatives make the victim relive again and again the pain and emotions that are associated with the traumatic event. Especially in cases as media-driven as the latter, where the victim is even being questioned in relation to the response given.