Definitions

According to Policy 67b – Prevention of Sexual Violence

Any sexual act or act targeting a person’s sexuality, gender identity or gender expression, whether the act is physical or psychological in nature, which is committed, threatened or attempted against a person without the person’s consent. It includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent exposure, voyeurism, non-consensual condom removal (stealthing), and sexual exploitation. For further clarity, sexual assault includes rape. 

An active, direct, voluntary, unimpaired, and conscious choice and agreement to engage in sexual activity. These elements of consent must be present, even if alcohol or drugs have been consumed. Consent cannot be given by a person whose judgement is impaired by drugs or alcohol or by other forms of impairment. It is not acceptable for a person who is said to have engaged in sexual violence to use their own consumption of alcohol or drugs as an excuse for their mistaken belief that there was consent. For further clarity, consent

• cannot be assumed or implied
• cannot be given by silence or the absence of “no”
• cannot be given by an individual who is impaired by alcohol or drugs, or is unconscious
• cannot be given by an individual who is asleep
• cannot be obtained through threats or coercion
• can be revoked at any time
• cannot be given if the person who is said to have engaged in sexual violence has abused a position of trust, power or authority

cannot be properly given if an individual has a condition that limits his or her verbal or physical means of interaction. In such instances, it is extremely important to determine how consent will be established.

To learn more about consent, watch the video Consent: It's simple as tea. (2:49)  

Any sexual physical contact, without the consent of a person, which may include unwanted kissing, fondling, sexual intercourse, oral or anal intercourse, other forms of penetration, or any other unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature.

Engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a person based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression where the course of comment or conduct is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome. In some cases, one incident could be serious enough to be considered sexual harassment. Here is a non-exhaustive list of examples:

• sexual solicitation or advance where the person making the solicitation or advance is in a position to confer, grant or deny a benefit or advancement and the person making the solicitation or advance knows or ought reasonably to know that the solicitation or advance is unwelcome;
• an implied or expressed promise of reward for complying with a sexually oriented request;
• an implied or expressed threat of reprisal or actual reprisal for refusing to comply with a sexually oriented request;
• a sexual relationship that constitutes an abuse of power in a relationship of authority;
• a series of sexually oriented comments or behaviours that may reasonably be perceived as creating a negative psychological or emotional environment for work or study; or
• indecent exposure, voyeurism, degrading sexual imagery, degrading comments of a sexual nature (in person or online) and cyber harassment of a sexual nature. 

Means:

• engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a worker in a workplace because of their sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, where the course of comment or conduct is known, or ought reasonably to be known, to be unwelcome; or 
• making a sexual solicitation or advance where the person making the solicitation or advance is in a position to confer, grant or deny a benefit or advancement to the worker and the person knows or ought reasonably to know that the solicitation or advance is unwelcome. In some cases, one incident could be serious enough to be considered sexual harassment.

Behaviours which occur on more than one occasion and collectively instil fear in the person or threaten the person’s safety or mental health, or that of their family or friends. Stalking includes non-consensual communications (e.g., face-to-face, phone, online); threatening or obscene conduct or gestures; surveillance and pursuit; and sending unsolicited gifts.

The exposure of the private or intimate parts of the body in a lewd or sexual manner, in a public place when the perpetrator may be readily observed. Indecent exposure includes exhibitionism.

The surreptitious observation of a person without their consent and in circumstances where they could reasonably expect privacy. Voyeurism may include direct observation, observation by mechanical or electronic means, or visual recordings.

Taking advantage of another person through non-consensual or abusive sexual control. This may include the digital or electronic broadcasting, distributing, recording and or photographing of people involved in sexual acts without their consent.

Non-consensual condom removal (stealthing)

Form of sexual assault in which a sexual partner removes their condom during the sexual act, without the knowledge or consent of the other partner. 

Form of sexual assault in which a sexual partner removes their condom during the sexual act, without the knowledge or consent of the other partner.

Form of sexual violence carried out through various communication technologies, such as the Internet, social media or text messaging.

Examples:

• Sending sexual images (e.g., cyber-exhibitionism) or unsolicited sexual messages.
• Sending unsolicited requests for sexual photos and videos to someone you may or may not know.
• Recording a person without their knowledge and then sharing or publishing sexual images of them, or threatening to share these images.

A culture in which dominant ideas, social practices, media images and societal institutions implicitly or explicitly condone sexual assault by normalizing or trivializing male sexual violence and by blaming survivors for their own abuse. There are many myths about sexual violence that influence how it is understood by survivors, perpetrators, their families and friends, and the broader public.

Here are some of these myths: