Sexual Assault Defined

Our definition of sexual assault is any type of sexual behavior or contact where consent is not freely given or obtained and is accomplished through force, intimidation, violence, coercion, manipulation, threat, deception, or abuse of authority. This definition gets beyond our society’s narrow understanding of the issue and expands the spectrum of actions to be considered sexual assault. Holcomb, Rid of My Disgrace, p. 28.

Though the Holcoms do not include this as part of their definition, I don’t think they would disagree that that sexual contact done in ignorance, even though done willingly is also a kind of sexual assault and causes shame and disgrace.