I was in shock. For years Ainjel just ignored the incident, burying her memory of it. Only later, after she moved to Austin, Texas, did she start to deal with her abuse by becoming a peer counselor for the Austin Rape Crises Center. It was best way for me to heal. Some people, like Ainjel, deal with it out in the open.
Some people keep it to themselves and never, ever tell anyone.
But, experts and survivors say that whichever road you take, you still have to deal with the violence and its aftermath long after your attacker is gone. Get Support Click here if you need to talk to someone right now. Defining sexual violence Sexual assault is defined as any unwanted sexual attention committed by force or coercion. It includes rape, incest, sexual abuse, molestation and sexual harassment and can be perpetrated by an acquaintance, a date, a stranger or even a family member. According to a 1992 survey by the National Victim's Center, one in every three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime.