If you have said “yes” when you didn't really want to, know that you may have been sexually coerced, that there's no excuse for what happened to you, and that what happened was not your fault.
When Does 'Yes' Not Mean 'Yes'? (Bustle Magazine, 2015)
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Psychological Consequences of Sexual Victimization Resulting From Force, Incapacitation, or Verbal Coercion
Verbal coercion involved less perpetrator force, victim resistance, and injury than did forcible rape but did not differ from incapacitated rape. Finally, victims of verbal coercion held them-selves more responsible for the incident than did victims of forcible rape and held the perpetrator less responsible than did victims of either forcible or incapacitated rape.
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What Everyone Needs to Understand About Sexual Coercion
Sexual coercion refers to unwanted sexual activity that occurs after being pressured in non-physical ways.
Sexually coerced women are more likely to experience post-traumatic stress, self-blame, depression, and other negative feelings.
Such coercion is often seen in the context of abusive relationships.
Agreeing to sexual activity after coercion is abusive behavior, but is not likely considered a crime.
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A Closer Look at Sexual Coercion
One aspect of your life that you have complete control over is how far you want to take it with your romantic partner — whether that’s your husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, or anyone you’re involved with. You should never feel forced into anything that you’re not comfortable with or don’t feel like doing…
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Your Guide to Sexual Consent
The issue of consent has been pushed to the forefront of public discussion over the past year — not just in the United States, but around the world.
Following numerous reports of high-profile incidents of sexual assault and the development of the #MeToo movement, one thing has become increasingly clear: We urgently need more education and discussion about consent.
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What is sexual coercion?
In a healthy relationship, both partners feel comfortable with the level of physical activity, whether that means holding hands, kissing, touching, and/or having intercourse…
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What Does Sexual Coercion Look Like?
Sexual coercion can be confusing and deeply distressing. You know what happened wasn’t right, but you might not fully understand how or why. You might even believe they couldn’t have assaulted you since you said “yes” in the end.
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Sexual coercion (Office on Women's Health)
Sexual coercion is unwanted sexual activity that happens when you are pressured, tricked, threatened, or forced in a nonphysical way. Coercion can make you think you owe sex to someone. It might be from someone who has power over you, like a teacher, landlord, or a boss. No person is ever required to have sex with someone else.
Sexual Coercion
Planned Parenthood Video
When Someone Doesn’t Want to Have Sex: What is Consent?
Sometimes your partner doesn't want to do what you're interested in, is too drunk or high to consent, or is just simply not into you. Here's how to handle a situation where you are not given sexual consent with courtesy and respect.
YOUR HUSBAND IS DEVALUING YOU
Do you feel like you have emotional whiplash after a conversation with your husband? Does he put you up on a pedestal just to tear you down? Does he ask you to manage his life, then get sulky and resentful when you do what he requested?
Your husband is covertly devaluing you.
THE TRUTH ABOUT WIFE RAPE
Many victims of betrayal and emotional abuse are unknowingly victims of marital rape, or wife rape, as well.
This insidious assault can be difficult to identify. Once identified, victims can begin the journey to healing.
Podcast & Newsletter
I have a newsletter that is now in podcast format. It’s the audio version of my writing, with my voice reading to you, my thoughts on sexual coercion, some of my poetry, and other commentary from the community of women (and some men) where we’re learning how to heal together.