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Definitions

Rape refers to forced penetration, either vaginal, oral, or anal. (Use of alcohol or other drugs to lower the survivor's resistance to sexual contact is considered use of force and meets the legal criteria for rape.)

Date Rape or Acquaintance Rape refers to forced penetration by someone who is known by the survivor, i.e.: a classmate, store clerk, date, significant other, hallmate or neighbor, friend's boyfriend, someone the survivor met at a party. 1 in 4 college women experience rape.

Date Rape Drugs are any drugs used to incapacitate a victim so that the perpetrator can commit a sexual assault or rape. Alcohol, ecstacy ("E"), GHB ("G"), Ketamine ("Special K"), and Rohypnol ("roofies"), are common club drugs used both with and without the knowledge of the victim for the purpose of committing rape. For more information about these drugs, their characteristics, nicknames, dangerous effects, etc, visit our page about Date Rape Drugs with links to sites for more information.

Sexual Assault is a generic term that refers to any unconsented sexual contact including touching, fondling, kissing, intercourse, penetration that is oral, vaginal or anal, or any other unwanted sexual contact. 1 in 6 American women experience some form of sexual assault at some point in their lifetime.

Child Sexual Assault refers to sexual contact between a minor (someone under 18 years of age) and an adult, or between two minors when one exerts power over the other. According to the laws of many states, the assailant must be 4 to 5 years older than the child for it to legally qualify as child sexual assault. However, psychologically, the effect of sexual abuse can be devastating regardless of the victim and perpetrators' ages. For more information about child sexual abuse, see Darkness 2 Light.

Incest refers to child sexual assault in which the perpetrator is a relative (parent/step-parent, sibling, uncle, grandparent, cousin, etc.)

Sexual Harassment includes any unwanted sexual attention such as staring, leering, teasing, jokes, gestures, sexually demeaning comments, inappropriate touching, pressure for dates or sex, or suggestions that sex can be exchanged for a perk, grade or job promotion. It can come from anyone, including a peer or a person in a position of power over the victim (ex: a supervisor or professor).Sexual Harassment is a clear violation of University policy and is illegal.

Dating Violence includes a broad spectrum of abusive behaviors. You do NOT have to be hit or beaten to be a victim of this kind of abuse. Abuse can be verbal, emotional, psychological, sexual, and/or physical. Abusive behaviors are oppressive, coercive, and controlling. Examples: strong jealousy or possessiveness, trying to control your decisions or finances, needing to know where you are at all times, blaming you for their behaviors, or pushing/shoving/hitting are all forms of dating violence.

"Survivor" vs. "Victim" When a crime has been committed against a person, the common and legal term for their status is "victim". However, throughout this website S.O.S. uses the term "victim" interchangeably with the term "survivor" in order to recognize and validate the seriousness and trauma of the act which has been committed against the person while at the same time focussing on the person's strength and inherent ability to heal and overcome this trauma.

**The Delaware laws related to these crimes are listed within Title 11, Chapter 5 of the Delaware Code, which is available on the State of Delaware website.

National U.S. statistics on Sexual Assault

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