Sexual Violence

Facts 2016
Introduction to Sexual Violence
Sexual violence is a major public health problem in America, affecting millions of
Americans who need the support of their society. There are major short and long term effects
on a victims physical and mental health. Sexual violence affects Americans of all genders,
sexual orientations, races, and ages. While rates of sexual assaults and rapes are down by
74% since 1993, today every two minutes an American is a victim of sexual assault. It is still
a prominent issue in our society and one with dire consequences. 1
Sexual Violence is any sexual act against someone who did not freely give consent. Anyone
can be a victim of sexual violence, which is an encompassing term for various types of sexual crimes such as
sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape. It may be perpetrated by partners, friends, family, acquaintances,
or strangers. Definitions of the crime vary depending on the jurisdiction which makes prevention and
criminalization difficult. However, consent is commonly recognized as approval or agreement given without
force or coercion. If someone is unable or unwilling to give consent to any sexual act, varying from rape to
non-contact sexual experiences, it is considered sexual violence. Ones ability to give consent is affected by
age, disability, self-induced or forced intoxication of alcohol or drugs, and language barriers. 2

19.3%, of women have been raped during their lifetimes

43.9% of women experienced some form of sexual violence
1.7% of men were raped during their lifetimes
23.4% of men experienced some form of sexual violence

1 in 4 women experience some form of unwanted sexual contact

1 in 10 of men experience some form of unwanted sexual contact

Unfortunately, Victimization tends to rise within some minority groups/environments:

Prevalence by Race/Ethnicity

Office of the Attorney General

The Capitol, PL-01
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32399-1050
Phone: (850) 414-330
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32.3% of multiracial women, 27.5% OF American Indian/Alaskan Native women, 21.2% of nonHispanic black women, 20.5% of non-Hispanic white women, and 13.6% of Hispanic women were raped
during their lifetimes.2

64.1% of multiracial women, 55.0% of American Indian/Alaska Native women, 46.9% of nonHispanic white women, and 38.2% of non-Hispanic black women experienced sexual violence other than
rape during their lifetimes. 2
Special thanks to the Editing Intern Jordan Bolan for her assistance in creating this factsheet

Prevalence of Sexual Violence by Sexual

Orientation

1 in 8 Lesbian women have been raped in their lifetimes

1 in 2 bisexual women have been raped in their lifetimes

1 in 6 heterosexual women have been raped in their lifetimes

Nearly half of lesbian and heterosexual women and three-quarters of bisexual women reported
experiencing sexual violence other than rape in their lifetimes

4 out of 10 gay men, 1 in 2 bisexual men, and 1 in 5 heterosexual men have experience sexual
violence other that rape in their lifetimes2

1 in 4 transgender individuals are sexually assaulted after the age of 13 3

Sexual Violence Perpetrators

99% of female rape victims reported only male perpetrators

79% of male rape victims had only male perpetrators

The majority of female and male victims of rape reported that at least one perpetrator was an acquaintance or intimate partner

46.7% of female rape victims had at least one perpetrator who was an acquaintance, 45.4% were
raped by an intimate partner

44.9% of male rape victims were raped by an acquaintance, and 29% were raped by an intimate
partner2

In the Military

21.7% of women in the armed forces experience some form of unwanted sexual contact while in
the military by someone in the military4

Prevalence of Sexual Violence for People

with Disabilities

People with disabilities are three times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than those
without a disability3

Prevalence for Incarcerated Individuals

Sexual Violence is an issue in our prison system

14% of women and 4% of men were sexually assaulted by another prisoner

Theres a distinct problem for inmates of the LGBT community. 34% of bisexual men and 39%
of gay men reported being sexually assaulted, which is much lower than the rate of 3. 5% heterosexual men3

I cant say often enough it doesnt matter what coat she was wearing, whether she drank too much, whether it was in
the back of a car, in her room, on the street, it does not matter. It does not matter if she initially said yes and changed
her mind and said no. No means no, wherever it is stated
-Vice President Joe Biden

Sexual Violence on Campuses

A prominent issue on college campus, affecting all women on campus whether directly or indirectly. The
partying culture of college perpetuates this problem as assaults are high on incapacitated women. Often
the women are provided alcohol or drugs which is often interpreted as a womans interest in sex and
assault perpetrators report believing the alcohol increases their sex drive.
1 in 5 women have been sexually assaulted in college

58% of the incapacitated rapes and 28% of the forced rapes occurred at a party

7% of college men admitted to committing or attempting rape

63% of the men that admitted to rape reported committing rape multiple times, with an average of 6
rapes each.

On average, only 12% of student victims reported their assault 3

Sexual Violence in Florida

In 2015, there were 10,732 forcible sexual offenses in Florida and 7,537 cases of rape reported

17.1% of Floridian women have been raped, which is an estimated 1,266,00 victims

41.8% of Floridian women have experienced another form of Sexual Violence, which is 3,111,000
victims

20.4% of Floridian men have experienced sexual violence other than rape, which is 1,437,000
victims6

Resources in Florida
Florida Council Against Sexual
Violence (FCASV)
1820 E. Park Avenue
Suite 100
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: 850-287-2000
Email: information@fcasv.org
Sexual Violence Hotline: 1-888956-7273

Florida Department of Health

Sexual Violence Prevention Program
4052 Bald Cypress Way - Bin
A13
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: 850-245-4455

Attorney General Pam Bondis

Crime Victims Services
Website: myfloridalegal.com/
victims

Resources in the US
Department of Defenses Safe
Helpline
Phone: 877-995-5247
Live online help at:
www.safehelpline.org

National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)

Phone: 717-909-0710
Email: resources@nsvrc.org
Website: www.nsvrc.org

US Department of Justice
Phone: 202-514-2000
Website: www.justice.gov/ovw/
protecting-students-sexual-assault

Sources
1

RAINN Organization. www.rainn.org/statistics/scope-problem

Prevalence and Characteristics of Sexual Violence, Stalking, and Intimate Partner Violence VictimizationNational Intimate
Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, United States, 2011, (Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014).
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss6308.pdf
3
Rape and Sexual Assault: A Renewed Call to Action, (The White House Council on Women and Girls, 2014).
www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/sexual_assault_report_1-21-14.pdf
4
2011 Department of Defense Health Related Behaviors Survey of Active Duty Military Personnel, (Department of Defense,
2013). www.ncdsv.org/images/DoDetal_2011-DoD-health-related-behaviors-survey-of-active-duty-military-personnel_2-2013.pdf
5
National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 2010, (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). www.cdc.gov/
ViolencePrevention/pdf/NISVS_Report2010-a.pdf
6
Florida Statewide Reported Sex Offenses, 1971 2015, (Florida Department of Law Enforcement, 2015). www.fdle.state.fl.us/
cms/FSAC/Documents/PDF/1971_fwd_sex_offenses.aspx
2