To Find Something True

What is Sexual Coercion?

sexual coercion

[source from MedicalNewsToday; trigger warning – mentions of sexual assault]

a/n: since the article is quite long, I picked some context and summarized.

definition: Sexual coercion is when a person pressures – in a nonphysical way –, tricks, threatens or manipulates
someone into having sex. It is a type of sexual assault because even if person B says yes to person A, they are not giving their consent freely.

In sexual coercion, a person has sex because they feel they should or must, rather than they want to. It can occur in any kind of relationship and applies to any type of sex.

The nature of sexual coercion can vary significantly, from persistently asking for sex until someone gives in to threats of violence or revenge. As some types of coercion are not apparently intimidating, some people may not realize they are experiencing or engaging in it.

 

Examples of sexual coercion

A person may try to sexually coerce someone through:
 

• Harassment – repeatedly asking someone for sex when they have expressed disinterest is coercive behavior, especially if it intends to wear someone down until they give in.

• Guilt – a person may try to make someone feel guilty for saying no to sex. For example, they may emphasize how long it has been since they last had sex, say that the person owes the sex, or that it is their obligation as their partner.

• Lies – a person may use information to coax someone to have sex with them. They may use myths about consent to convince someone they have no right to say no, make false promises, or tell them their demands or coercive behaviors are normal.

• Threats to the relationship – a person may threaten to leave a relationship if someone does not consent to sex. Alternative, they may play on their partner’s insecurities, such as by suggesting they are boring or unattractive if they say no or that they will start being unfaithful.

• Blackmail – this is when someone weaponized secret information about a person to force them into having sex. For example, the perpetrator might threaten to release nude photographs online if someone does not consent to sex.

• Fear and intimidation – a person may behave in a scary way or intimidating manner when they do not get their way to pressure someone into sex.

• Power imbalance – a person may use the power they get form their job, status, or wealth to coerce someone. They may threaten someone with job loss, lower grades, a tarnished reputation, or other negative consequences if they do not agree. Alternatively, they may promise rewards and opportunities.

• Using substance – a person may encourage someone to use drugs or alcohol to make them more compliant and therefore easier to coerce into sex. If a person has sex with someone while inebriated or unconscious, this is rape.

 

 

 

 

Is sexual coercion abuse?

The term ‘abuse’ describes any pattern of behavior that a person uses to gain control or power over someone else. If it is part of a pattern, sexual coercion is abuse.

It is possible coercive sex happens once which may result to a misunderstanding or believing that it is normal to be coercive in sexual relationships. However, if a person does not care that the act is harmful and/or continues to do it regardless, this signals an abusive relationship.

A person may use sexual coercion alongside other types of abuse, such as coercive control. This involves demanding control over many aspects of their partner’s life, such as what they wear, where they go, who they socialize with.

Demeaning or insulting comments, humiliation, and gaslighting may also wear down someone’s self-esteem.