Addressing sexual violence is never easy. Sexual violence combines two topics—sex and violence—that even when addressed separately make many feel uncomfortable. The mere existence of the word “sex” in sexual violence results in many myths and stigmas. These myths often blind us from seeing sexual violence for what it is: violence that uses sexual acts as means for exerting power and control. The impact of sexual violence is often overwhelming and devastating, yet it can also facilitate growth and resilience.
So how do we address the destructive issue of sexual violence? Like everything else we do, we refer to it through our cultural context. Some people believe that “culture” is something that only belongs to people of different backgrounds than them, and will minimize culture to unfamiliar and “exotic” clothes, food or rituals. In fact, all of us have culture and most of us navigate through many cultures. Culture is an umbrella term for the norms, values, and customs that we use in our various social environments (e.g. workplace culture, community culture, and even hockey culture).
Some communities have been systematically oppressed by dominant cultures, like the Indigenous communities of this land, or the historical Canadian immigration policies that were discriminatory to some populations, including specific ethno-cultural communities. People still experience racism and discrimination in Canada to this day, on both the individual and systemic level.
When our work is addressing sexual violence in newcomer communities, we are adding layers to an already complex subject. Sexual violence is a crime of power and control that has lasting impacts, but when someone is already positioned in a disadvantaged social location, that marginalization can reinforce the impacts. We cannot isolate experiences of sexual violence from people’s experiences of oppression and their intersectional identities. We have to consider the wider context. For newcomers, this context may include pre-immigration, migration and post-migration stressors and the negative impact that immigration and racism has on people’s health.
It’s important to remember that this complexity does not exist because specific cultures condone sexual violence; in fact, there is no culture where sexual violence is considered acceptable (besides rape culture) although some people may use their culture as an excuse for violence. We also need to remember the wide range, or diversity, of newcomer individuals in Canada. People who come to Canada from other countries are not a homogeneous group; the only commonality among them is that the Canadian culture and legal system are new to them. So we cannot assume that individuals from the same communities hold similar values.
The first step in addressing sexual violence in newcomer communities– whether it’s within or against that community– is being aware of our own social location and what we are bringing—and lacking—when we interact with a given individual or community. This awareness of our personal cultures, privileges and oppressions will help us position ourselves in the right context that is needed in order to connect with others.
The second step is, like in any other human-services, to invest in building trustworthy and genuine relationships that are intentionally based on kindness and equity.
SACE has resource materials on how to support adults and children who are impacted by sexual violence. If you are supporting an adult newcomer who has experienced sexual violence, here are some more things to keep in mind:
Addressing sexual violence is never easy but the ability to humbly and truly connect with others helps all of us grow and support our healing as individuals and as a community.
*The term “newcomer” is general and refers to people who were not born in Canada, whether they are immigrants who have gained citizenship, permanent residents, refugees, on a visa for work or school, or non-status.
The improper exposure of a child to any sexual contact, activity, or behaviour. This includes all sexual touching, the invitation to touch, exhibitionism, exposure to pornography.
Forcing another individual, through violence, threats (physical or emotional), pressure, deception, guilt, to engage in sexual activities against their will.
A voluntary agreement between 2 or more people to engage in sexual activity. Consent must be clear, informed, voluntary, sober, act and person-specific, ongoing, mutual, active, and come directly from the individuals engaging in the sexual contact. It is impossible to get consent from children, though close-in-age and peer-experimentation exceptions exist for youth ages 12-15.
A society or environment in which obtaining consent and respecting boundaries is the norm, for both sexual contact and everyday activities.
The advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.
An intersectional approach to service delivery that acknowledges that the root of sexual violence is power inequality and works to reduce barriers that groups and individuals face when seeking support and volunteer or employment opportunities.
When an intimate photo or video is shared or taken without the voluntary consent (read consent definition above) of the person in the photo or video (Source: savedmonton.com)
Person-first language recognizes that a person is more than any one experience and that labels are sometimes harmful. People who have experienced sexual violence may use terms like victim or survivor to describe themselves, or they may use words like offender or perpetrator to describe the person who harmed them. Terms that resonate for one person may not fit for another person for a variety of reasons, and SACE supports a person’s right to self-determine their identity and experience. This is why at SACE, we default to person-first language such as “person who experienced sexual assault”, or “person who used abusive behavior”, unless speaking with or about an individual who has identified how they would like their experience to be talked about.
A society or environment whose prevailing social attitudes have the effect of normalizing or trivializing sexual assault and abuse.
Sex trafficking is a form of sexual exploitation. Human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation is a crime and Canada has specific legislation in the Criminal Code (S. 279) and in the IRPA (Immigrant and Refugee Protection Action) (S. 117 & 118) to address all types of human trafficking (sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, organ, debt servitude) There are three elements to constitute human trafficking: Action + Means + Purpose.
Sexual abuse is most often used to refer to Child Sexual Abuse. To learn more about this, read the definition above or our section on Child Sexual Abuse.
Any form of sexual contact without voluntary consent, including unwanted: oral contact (kissing); sexual touching; oral-genital contact; and/or vaginal or anal penetration.
Any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.
Any unwanted comment, gesture, or action that is sexual in nature that makes someone feel afraid, embarrassed, uncomfortable or ashamed. The intention of the person doing the action doesn’t matter, it’s the negative impact the action has that makes something sexual harassment.
Sexual violence is an umbrella term that refers to any form of non-consensual sexual behavior, including sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, and sexual violence facilitated through technology.
