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Sexual violenceĀ is a broad term used to encompass attempted and actual experiences of rape, sexual coercion, assault, harassment, and abuse committed by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim. Tragically, countless individuals of all ages, demographics, and backgrounds have experienced sexual violence in some form. The pervasiveness of sexual violence, particularly targeted against women, is a blight on our society and a seriousĀ public health concernĀ requiring a holistic approach to solve. Individuals, institutions such as local and federal governments, aid agencies, schools and universities, faith communities, corporations, and others all have a role to play in eliminating sexual violence.

Recent years have ushered in a heightened cultural dialogue and awareness surrounding issues of sexual harassment, assault, violence, and consent. Building on this discussion, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation emphasizes the dangerous role that mediaā€”particularly online pornography and pop cultureā€”play in normalizing and even glamorizing sexual violence. Whether in the form of movies, television, advertisements, social media, or mainstream pornography, these societal influences deeply impact how the public views and reacts to real-world sexual violence. In order to instigate a cultural shift that truly rejects and works to eradicate all forms of sexual violence, it is imperative to also address these powerful influences on our culture.

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Sexual Violence as a Sexual Script in Pornography

FAQ section

Sexual violence, whether attempted or actual, is deeply traumatizing. Compounding this trauma, it can be very frightening to reach out for help. Questions like, ā€œWill I be believed?ā€ and ā€œWill I be blamed?ā€ are common concerns that keep victims from speaking outĀ and getting assistance.Ā Ā 

A first step can be talking to someone you trust. Is there a close family member, caregiver, or friend you can reach out to for support? If not, donā€™t lose heart. There are many people who can help.Ā Ā 

For instance, you can reach out to theĀ National Sexual Assault Telephone HotlineĀ  by calling 800.656.4673Ā orĀ via onlineĀ chatĀ atĀ https://hotline.rainn.org/online/.Ā This is aĀ safe, confidential service that will connect you to a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.Ā Ā 

How doĀ IĀ report sexual assault to police?Ā 

Call 911.Ā If you are in immediate danger, dial 911. Help will come to you, wherever you are.Ā 

Contact the local police department.Ā Call the direct line of your local police station or visit the station in person. If you are on a college campus you may also be able to contact campus-based law enforcementĀ who have had sexual assault training.Ā 

Never be afraid to ask for a female officer.Ā Ā If you feel more comfortable speaking with a female officer regarding you assault, they will provide one for you.Ā 

Visit a medical center.Ā If you are being treated for injuries resulting from sexual assault, tell a medical professional that you wish to report the crime. You can also choose to have a sexual assault forensic exam.Ā Medical social workers and victim advocates are usually available in medical and or hospitalĀ seetings.Ā 

If you are a victim of onlineĀ sexualĀ exploitation and are interested in legal services, contact our Law CenterĀ here.Ā Ā 

We live in a hyper-sexualized, pornified culture where pornography is mainstream, accepted and shaping the sexual template of theĀ next generation.Ā The fact that pornography influences theĀ sexual socializationĀ of its users is well established.Ā Ā 

This is especially concerning when much pornography depicts sexual violence, particularly violence against women.Ā Boys and menĀ (as well as girls and women)Ā are consuming pornography and being toldĀ repeatedlyĀ that women enjoy violent, nonconsensual sexual encounters.Ā For instance, a largescaleĀ content analysisĀ of 4009 heterosexual scenes from 3737 videos randomly selected from the websites Pornhub and XVideos from fall 2013 to spring 2014 found:Ā 

  • 45.1% of Pornhub and 35% of XVideos scenes contained at least one act of physical aggression (e.g., spanking, slapping, gagging, choking, etc.) against a woman or a man.Ā 
  • Women were the targets of physically aggressive acts in 96.7% of Pornhub and 96.8% of XVideos scenes containing physical aggression.Ā Ā 
  • Men were perpetrators of violence in 75.9% of all physical aggression in Pornhub scenes, and 76% of all acts of physical aggression in XVideos scenes.Ā 
  • Women were aggressors in against men in 2.8% of Pornhub and 3.1% of XVideos scenes containing physical aggression.Ā 
  • Women responded with either pleasure or neutrality in 97.4% of Pornhub and 92.7% of XVideos scenes containing physical aggression.Ā 

Ā 

This is compelling evidence thatĀ mainstream pornography both endorses and sexualizes two especially pernicious sexual scripts: 1) that women enjoy and welcome physical aggression during heterosexual sex, and 2) that women are mere sexual objects that do not interact with their male sexual partners.Ā Ā 

Another studyĀ provides further evidence of the normalization of sexual violence in pornography.Ā Researchers foundĀ that 1 in 8 (12%) of the video titles on largest mainstream pornography sites in the U.K. (Pornhub, XVideos, and Xhamster) described activities that constitute sexual violence including sexual activity between family members, aggression and assault, image-based sexual abuse, and coercive and exploitive sexual activity. Much of the material likely depicted evidence of real sexual assaults and non-consensual distribution of sexually explicit material.Ā Thus, children who end upĀ onĀ these sites are being socialized to sexually violent pornography from the very outset of their exposure to hardcore pornography.Ā 

Additionally,Ā a meta-analysisĀ of pornography and actual acts of sexual aggression in general population studies showedĀ that, ā€œthe accumulated data leave little doubt that, on the average, individuals who consume pornography more frequently are more likely to hold attitudes conducive to sexual aggression and engage in actual acts of sexual aggression than individuals who do not consume pornography or who consume pornography less frequently.ā€Ā 

Pornography is the narrative for much of the media in pop culture. Our movies, music, video games and TV shows are allĀ ā€œporn informed.ā€Ā Tragically, this means theyĀ are informed byĀ a narrative that endorsesĀ and normalizesĀ sexual violence against women.Ā 

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Annual List of 12 mainstream Facilitators of Sexual Exploitation

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The Violence of Prostitution

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Sexual Violence Issue Fast Facts

459,310

The Criminal Victimization, 2019 survey found an estimated 459,310 instances of rape or sexual assault in the United States in one year alone. Thatā€™s 1.7 instances of sexual violence for every 1,000 people older than 12 years old.
Learn More

65%

Official sex crime statistics are too low because many people never disclose their experiences of sexual violence. Research has shown that 2 in 3 (65%) of rape or sexual assault victimizations were not reported to the police from 2006 to 2010.
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Further Reading

Audio Resources

Subscribe to the Ending Sexploitation Podcast today!

The Ending Sexploitation podcast decodes sexual harms and provides you with active solutions. We address the full spectrum of sexual exploitation, from sex trafficking to sexual violence, to rape culture, to pornography, and more. And better yet, we give you the tools to make a difference!

The Numbers

300+

NCOSE leads the Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation with over 300 member organizations.

100+

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation has had over 100 policy victories since 2010. Each victory promotes human dignity above exploitation.

93

NCOSE’s activism campaigns and victories have made headlines around the globe. Averaging 93 mentions per week by media outlets and shows such as Today, CNN, The New York Times, BBC News, USA Today, Fox News and more.

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