Trigger warning- to think sexual touching over clothing is still sexual assault?

[Krazynights34]

Inspired by a situation that occurred to me and the varying responses I got from people when I mentioned it.
Sometimes I think the words used around such incidents need to be changed.. don’t know to what.
Just my thoughts on a dreary morning I guess..

Yes of course it is. I'm sorry

Yes of course it is

Ask them is it ok to do it to a child then. If they say no, ask them why they think women should just accept sexual assaults as part of life. That used to be the attitude. If a woman wasn't a virgin then she should just get over it.

I agree with you all (thanks!)!! I think we’ve been thinking we’ve been conditioned to think that one thing isn’t “as bad” as another and hence doesn’t deserve the same name.

The definition of sexual assault is non-consensual physical contact of a sexual nature/with sexual intent, the definition makes no mention of clothing. I'm sorry this happened to you and that people have been dismissive arseholes about it.

From experience (I’m so sorry it happened to you, @Krazynights34) we also minimise things ourselves as a way of coping with/suppressing the reality by changing the language we use to describe the event.

Yes, 100%! As a PP said, sexual assault is non-consensual physical contact of a sexual nature of intent. Doesn't matter if it is over or under your clothes.

It is really sad how many people dismiss sexual assault these days - are you sure his hand wasn't on your bum or thigh by mistake, are you sure he wasn't pressing his penis against you because the train was packed. So many people would rather explain things away than acknowledge the truth, but the reality is, you know, 99% of the time, as a woman when something is accidental or deliberate.

I'm sorry this happened to you, and I'm also sorry people are dismissing your experience. I hope you're ok xx

Of course it is.

Yes it is. Many crimes are viewed on a sliding scale of severity, and that's clearly along that continuum. For example, what you could describe might also be compounded by including physical force, threats, etc.

Also, I know from experience, that different events impact people in different ways. We don't all respond in the same way, and what is mild and manageable for one person may be very very serious for another person, etc.

It most definitely is. Being touched in ANY manner when you don't want to be is bad enough.

I am so sorry, OP

Thanks all. I think I’m guilty of letting some things not impact me enough and others nearly destroy me.

Do you mean (for example) someone groping a body part without permission, but through clothes? Of course that’s assault.