Sexual Abuse Lawyer in Philadelphia Defending Your Rights from Start to Finish

Sexual violence is common, and generally perpetrated by a known attacker

1 in 4 women and 1 out of 6 men are sexually abused in their lifetime; In 8 out of 10 rape cases, the victim knows the attacker. Nearly 6 out of 10 sexual assaults occur in the victim’s home or the home of a friend, relative or neighbor; (Department of Justice)

Date Rape is common and often unreported

13.3 percent of college women say they have been forced to have sex in a dating situation. Only 28 percent of victims report their sexual assault to the police.

Sexual violence is perpetrated against the LGBTQ community and the disabled

1 in 2 transgender individuals will experience sexual violence; 2 in 5 gay men will be sexually abused. Among developmentally disabled adults, up to 83 percent of females and 32 percent of males are victims of sexual violence.

Sexual violence against males is common

About 2.6% of U.S. men (an estimated 2.8 million) experienced completed or attempted rape victimization in their lifetime. About 1 in 14 men (7.1% or nearly 7.9 million) in the U.S. was made to penetrate someone else (attempted or completed) at some point in their lifetime. Approximately 1 in 10 men (9.6% or an estimated 10.6 million men) experienced sexual coercion (e.g., being worn down by someone who repeatedly asked for sex, sexual pressure due to someone using their influence or authority) at some point in their lifetime. The majority of male victims (70.8% or an estimated 2.0 million) of completed or attempted rape reported that their first experience occurred prior to age 25.

Effects of Sexual Abuse

The impact of sexual abuse is never the same for each survivor. Victims of sexual assault often develop negative emotions, have impaired interpersonal relationships, and struggle with mental and psychological disorders through adulthood. Sexual abuse may breed feelings of shame, terror, guilt, and pain that can last for years or even decades after the abuse has ended.

Survivors may suffer from mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. These conditions make it challenging for survivors to resume normal life activities. Some survivors experience personality disruptions like dissociation, which is marked by detachment from reality as a coping mechanism. Addiction, self-mutilation, and attempted suicide may also present in victims of abuse.

Survivors are at an increased risk of harmful physiological conditions, such as high blood pressure, persistent pain, and chronic sleep disorders.

There is a great financial burden that comes with sexual violence. The estimated lifetime cost of rape is $122,461 per victim, or a population economic burden of nearly $3.1 trillion over victims’ lifetimes.