Wave of Change Important Terms

The terminology presented below is intended to provide a common vocabulary and context for our community as we discuss issues of sexual misconduct. Often, terms used in the survey instrument and in this report are broader in definition than criminal law.

GENDERQUEER/GENDER NON-CONFORMING/NON-BINARY IDENTIFYING
Refers to any individual who does not subscribe to conventional gender distinctions but identifies with neither, both, or a combination of genders.

LGBQ+ WOMEN AND GBQ+ MEN
Refers to any individual who identifies as a lesbian, gay, bisexual or any other queer-identity woman or a gay, bisexual or any other queer-identity man.

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
Refers collectively to sexual harassment, stalking, dating violence and sexual violence.

SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION
Refers to experiencing sexual misconduct.

SEXUAL ASSAULT
The survey report defines sexual assault broadly as nonconsensual sexual activity committed through incapacitation—taking advantage of a victim too drunk to stop what was happening—or force—through physical force such as holding or pinning down or through threats to physically harm the victim or some- one close to them.

There are three distinct activities included within the definition of sexual assault. The types of sexual assault are:

UNWANTED SEXUAL CONTACT
Fondling, kissing, or rubbing up against a person’s private areas of their body (lips, breast/chest, crotch, or butt), or removing clothing without the per- son’s consent by incapacitation or force.

 

ATTEMPTED RAPE
Attempted oral, anal, or vaginal sex without a person’s consent by incapacitation or force.
 

RAPE
Oral, anal, or vaginal sex without a person’s consent by incapacitation or force.

 

SEXUAL VIOLENCE
Refers collectively to sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence.

DATING VIOLENCE
The survey looked at dating violence as activities that occurred between any hook-up, boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife, including exes. It also excluded any measure of the length of the relationship. All questions excluded horseplay or joking. (This report uses the term dating violence to refer to both dating violence as well as domestic violence.)

The measured actions included:


  • Being threatened to be hurt and feeling as though actual harm may occur.

  • Being pushed, grabbed or shaken.

  • Being hit.

  • Being beaten up.

  • Stealing or destroying personal property.

  • Being scared of a significant other without them laying a hand on the person.

STALKING
The survey measured a number of stalking behaviors. In general, stalking refers to a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or any other course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.

The specific measures include:

  • Being watched or followed from a distance, or spied on with a listening device, camera, or GPS. 

  • Being approached or showing up in places, such as one’s home, workplace, or school when the 
perpetrator was unwanted there. 

  • Being left strange or potentially threatening items. 

  • Sneaking into one’s home or car and doing things to scare one by the perpetrator making it known 
they had been there. 

  • Leaving unwanted messages, including texts. 

  • Making unwanted calls, including hang-ups. 

  • Sending unwanted emails, instant messages, or social media messages. 

  • Leaving unwanted cards, flowers, or presents. 

  • Making rude or mean comments online. 

  • Spreading rumors about a person online. 


SEXISM & SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The survey included various measures of sexism and sexual harassment in the following categories:

SEXIST COMMENTS OR DISCRIMINATION
Being treated differently because of one’s sex or perceived gender identity, someone displaying sexist or suggestive materials, someone making offensive sexist remarks, or being put down because of their sex.
 

CRUDE AND LEWD REMARKS
Being told offensive sexual stories or jokes, unwanted attempts at drawing a person in discussions of sexual matters, someone making offensive remarks about their appearance, body, or sexual activities, or making gestures or using body language of a sexual nature that were embarrassing or offensive.

 

UNWANTED SEXUAL ATTENTION
Unwanted attempts to establish a romantic relationship, continually being asked out for drinks or dinner, touched in a way that made them uncomfortable, or unwanted attempts to kiss, fondle or stroke them.

 

SEXUAL COERCION
Being bribed with a reward to engage in sexual behavior, feeling threatened with retaliation for not being sexually cooperative, treated badly for refusing to have sex, or someone implied better treatment if they were sexually cooperative. 


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