Info Hub

What is sexual violence?

Sexual Violence is an umbrella term that captures a range of behaviours including rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, indecent exposure, image-based sexual abuse or so-called “Revenge Porn”, and stalking. This behaviour may be subject to disciplinary proceedings and /or criminal proceedings.

TU Dublin’s definition of sexual violence and harassment is: any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature which occurred in person or by letter, telephone, text, email or other electronic and/or social media and includes, but is not limited to, the following behaviour:

• Engaging, or attempting to engage in a sexual act (sexual assault or rape) with another individual without consent;
• Sexually touching another person without their consent;
• Conduct of a sexual nature that creates (or could create) an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment for others including making unwanted remarks of a sexual nature;
• Inappropriately showing sexual organs to another person either online or in person;
• Repeatedly following or harassing another person without their consent and agreement;
• Creating, accessing, viewing, or distributing child sexual abuse material (images, videos, memes or words) online or offline
• Displaying of inappropriate words or images/pictures on paper, clothing or online forums
• Recording and/or sharing OR threatening to share intimate images or recordings of another person without their consent; and
• Arranging or participating in events that may reasonably be assumed to cause degradation and humiliation to those who have experienced sexual violence, for example inappropriately themed social events or initiations.

What is sexual harassment?

Sexual Harassment is any form of unwanted verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that has the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity and creating an intimidating, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the person. Examples of sexual harassment may include:

• unwelcome touching and physical contact.
• making promises in return for sexual favours.
• leering and staring.
• sexual gestures and body movements.
• comments of a sexual nature.
• unsolicited questions about your sex life.
• sexist or sexuality-based insults.

What is online harassment?

Online harassment can be defined as the use of information and communication technologies by an individual or group to repeatedly cause harm to another person. It can also be referred to as cyberaggression, cyberbullying, cyber-harassment, cyberhate, cybervictimisation and deviant online behaviour Any act or behaviour that is considered harassment in person is also considered harassment online, such as:

• making threats, spreading rumours and/or demeaning others,
• causing embarrassment or humiliation in an online setting, or seeking revenge
• using expressions of discriminatory attitudes and beliefs—such as sexism, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia or ableist prejudices,
• impersonating others with malicious intent,

• sending inflammatory, inappropriate, rude and/or violent messages or comments about someone to provoke responses from other users,
• revenge porn; threatening to share intimate images or videos without consent

• cyberstalking,
• Unsolicited sharing of intimate sexual images/videos of self or other inappropriate images/videos,
• image based sexual abuse or
• other unwanted online conduct of a sexual nature. 

Online Harassment can take place on forums such as social media (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Twitter), SMS, instant messaging (via devices, email provider services, apps, and social media messaging features) and email. 

What is Stalking?

Stalking is a pattern of fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated behaviour that causes you to feel distressed or scared. Stalking can happen with or without a fear of violence. Stalking can be perpetrated by anyone. There are a number of behaviours which may constitute stalking.

There are a number of behaviours which may constitute stalking. Sometimes, stalking is confused with harassment - but they are significantly different. Many elements of harassment may amount to stalking if they are fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated.

Stalking behaviours can typically be broken up into the following categories: unwanted behaviours, threats and abuse, malicious communications and reputational damage.

​Stalking behaviour tends to be F.O.U.R - fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated.

Unwanted Behaviours

• Loitering around your home
• Spying or tracking your movements (online, using technology or in person)
• Following
• Making unwanted approaches to you (at home, work, in public)
• Making unwanted approaches to friends, family or colleagues
• Interfering with or damaging your property, breaking into your home

Threats or Abuse

• Threats to harm you or those close to you
• Threats to harm themselves around you
• Physical attacks or attempted physical attacks
• Sexual violence or attempted sexual violence

Malicious Communication

• Sending inappropriate letters, faxes, texts, WhatsApps, emails or social media messages
• Making inappropriate or malicious telephone calls to you
• Sending unwanted gifts

Reputational Damage

• Distributing malicious material about you (e.g. flyers, web-sites, posters, newspaper ads)
• Engaging in inappropriate or malicious social media contacts (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)
• Initiating false legal action against you
• Making false complaints to agencies
• Taking pictures/recordings of you without your consent
• Sharing private images of you that are of a very personal nature (e.g. nude images, sexual images)

​If you think that you are being stalked, you can take our stalking assessment - 'Am I being stalked?' which will provide you with more information. In an emergency please call 999 or 112.

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