The Effects of Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is a traumatic violation of the body, mind and spirit. It profoundly affects a person’s health and well-being.

Each person reacts in a unique way to sexual violence. Whether one experiences some or none of these feelings, each reaction is normal for each person. There is no right or wrong way to cope or feel after experiencing sexual violence.

Some of the common effects women experience include:

Physical

• Sleeping and eating difficulties
• Injuries sustained during the assault
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Pregnancy
• Permanent disability
• Body flashbacks

Emotional/Psychological

• Anxieties, depression, shame, anger/rage, fear
• Low self-esteem, shock, disbelief
• Feeling unclean or dirty
• Restlessness, guilt, embarrassment
• Confusion, unable to focus, feeling withdrawn
• Feeling disconnected from self and others
• Feeling powerless and helpless
• Flashbacks of the violence
• Feeling frozen or numb
• Feelings of loss
• Erratic mood swings
• Hyper-alertness

Sexual violence diminishes a woman’s feeling of trust (trust in self and others). A woman’s feeling of security and safety is fragmented after a sexual assault.

Women from marginalized communities face additional barriers and concerns, including, immigrant women, refugee women, native women, women of color, women with disabilities, rural women, women that work in the sex trades, lesbians, women in low income households, single women, elderly women, women who are homeless, incarcerated women and teen women.