If You Don’t Want To, You Don’t Have To: Info About Sexual Coercion
“By definition, sexual coercion is “the act of using pressure, alcohol or drugs, or force to have sexual contact with someone against his or her will; … tactics of postrefusal sexual persistence [used are] defined as persistent attempts to have sexual contact with someone who has already refused”
Pressure comes in various forms: emotional, physical and verbal. If your partner uses any of the following to get you to become physical, he or she could be pressuring you:
• Lying
• Blackmailing
• Guilting
• Threating
• Holding you down
• Yelling
• Badgering
• Name-callingYou should never feel forced into contact with someone. Be clear and direct with your partner if you don’t want to do something. Don’t be embarrassed to say that you don’t want to get physical. Be honest and make sure that you are heard. If the other person is not listening to you, leave the situation.”
From LoveIsRespect.org | Photo from the Red Flag Campaign
Sexual Coercion Awareness and Prevention by Fit.edu (PDF)