Definition of Sexual Coercion
Sexual coercion is the act of persuading or coercing
a minor into engaging in an unwanted sexual activity through physical
force, threat of physical force, or emotional manipulation. It differs
from rape in that the coerced individual consents to the sexual activity
for a variety of reasons. The coerced individual feels it is easier
to consent to sexual activity than decline due to an imbalance of
power. Coercive situations may not be obvious, even to the coerced
individual.
Many young teens consent to sex without thinking they
have a choice. Coercive situations may use threats, humiliation, and
anger as means to convince a partner to consent to sexual behavior.
The coerced individual often agrees to the activity because he or
she does not feel able to say “no” and have that response
respected.
Definition adapted from Sexual Coercion Among Adolescents:
A Training Guide for the Family Planning Clinician, Emory University
School of Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Regional
Training Center.
Counseling Tips
Raising the Issue
Responding to Difficult Emotions
National Resources
National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE
Free, Confidential, 24/7
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE
Free, Confidential, 24/7
Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is the nation's largest
anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual
Assault Hotline and carries out programs to prevent sexual assault,
help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.
www.rainn.org
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center serves as the nation’s
principal information and resource center regarding all aspects of
sexual violence. It provides national leadership, consultation and
technical assistance by facilitating the development and flow of information
on sexual violence intervention and prevention strategies. The NSVRC
works to address the causes and impact of sexual violence through
collaboration, prevention efforts and the distribution of resources.
http://www.nsvrc.org/
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information
and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, Child Welfare
Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to
help protect children and strengthen families. A service of the Children's
Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/
Resources for Providers
Adolescent Sexual Coercion: Identification, Prevention
and Response
A guidebook by the Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of
Family Health Family Planning Program.
http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/fp/docs/edmat/adolescentsexualcoercion.pdf
Counseling to Minors on Resisting Sexual Coercion
This document compiled by TRAINING 3 provides information and identifies
resources that can assist family planning providers offering counseling
to adolescents about resisting sexual coercion.
http://www.training3info.org/admin/resources/9-11-2006_12_00_05_PM_COMBINED_HANDOUTS.pdf
Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships
A page on Healthy Teen Network’s website that discusses healthy
and unhealthy relationships.
http://www.healthyteennetwork.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={93D10D6F-011B-4718-AFF0-14836BE6098A}
Dating Violence Among Adolescents
A fact sheet by Advocates for Youth. (November 2006)
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/factsheet/fsdating.pdf
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the US
(SIECUS)
SIECUS provides information and training opportunities for educators,
health professionals, parents, and communities across the country
to ensure that people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds receive
high quality, comprehensive education about sexuality.
http://www.siecus.org/
Sexual Coercion Among Adolescents: A Training Guide
for the Family Planning Clinician
This curriculum developed by Deb Risisky, M.Ed., CHES and colleagues
at the Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Gynecology
and Obstetrics, Regional Training Center contains modules ranging
from adolescent health and development to legal issues regarding coercion
to how to integrate changes into the family planning clinic.
Resources for Teens
www.sexetc.org
A website for teens by teens with honest, medically accurate and balanced
information about human sexuality and sexual health.
itsnotok.org
A website which directly answers teens’ questions about abuse
including how to tell if they or a friend are a victim of abuse and
how to develop a safety plan. It also provides space for teens to
share their stories and artwork related to their experiences of abuse.
www.teenwire.com
Teenwire.com is an award-winning sexual health website for teens developed
by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. It addresses a number
of issues teens face, including emotional issues, body concerns, birth
control, relationships and sexual coercion.
A Guide to Healthy Relationships
This section on Advocates for Youth’s website is dedicated to
helping teens identify qualities of healthy and unhealthy relationships.
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/youth/health/relationships/index.htm
State-Specific Resources
A Manual for Title X Providers: Confidential Services
and Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect
These manuals were developed by the Region I Title X Family Planning
Training Center as guides to providers in the six New England states.
They provide general information on reporting laws and definitions
of “statutory rape” and “minor”, which differ
from state to state. Click on your state to download "A Manual
for Title X Providers: Confidential Services and Reporting of Child
Abuse and Neglect" in MA, CT,
NH, VT,
ME, or RI
editions. (pdf)
Vermont
Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
1-800-489-7273
24-hour toll-free hotline.
www.vtnetwork.org
Rhode Island
Day One: The Sexual Assault & Trauma Resource Center
1-800-494-8100
24-hour toll-free HelpLine.
www.dayoneri.org
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
1-800-277-5570
24-hour toll-free hotline.
www.nhcadsv.org
Massachusetts
Jane Doe, Inc. Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and
Domestic Violence
1-877-785-2020
SafeLink is a 24-hour, free and multi-lingual hotline.
www.janedoe.org
Maine
Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Confidential 24-hour toll-free hotline.
1-800-871-7741
TTY 1-888-458-5599
www.mecasa.org
Connecticut
Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services, Inc.
Statewide 24-hour toll-free hotline.
1-888-999-5545 English
1-888-568-8332 Español
www.connsacs.org
JSI Publications
Counseling Teen Clients Experiencing Sexual
Coercion
The video, developed for family planning providers and counselors,
demonstrates client-centered approaches for counseling teens experiencing
sexual coercion. The video features two scenarios representative of
the types of situations faced by Title X clients. In the first scenario,
a 16 year old client is being pressured to have sex by her teenage
boyfriend. The second scenario focuses on a reportable situation in
which a young teen is being sexually abused by her mother’s
partner.
The accompanying guide provides discussion questions
and resources to enable viewers of the video to learn from one another,
and to build upon their past experience working with teenage clients
in difficult situations. The guide includes the complete script for
each scenario, annotated to draw attention to counseling techniques,
questions or statements that may be helpful in raising the issues,
responding to the strong emotions that may arise, and providing support
and assistance to the client. The discussion questions following each
script can be used when viewing the video in a group setting such
as a staff meeting or training session, or can be provided to individuals
viewing the video on their own.
To order copies, please contact Amy Behrens at abehrens@jsi.com.
A Guide for Title X Family Planning Counselors:
Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect and Confidential Services
Title X providers are legally obligated to provide confidential health
care services to adolescents. At the same time, they are also required
to comply with state laws for the reporting of statutory rape, abuse
and neglect of minors. Negotiating the tension between these two requirements
can be a daunting task. To assist providers in Region I with this
task, JSI created an informational guide sheet entitled A Guide for
Title X Family Planning Counselors: Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect
and Confidential Services. While the guide is not intended as legal
advice or to be applied to any particular situation, it still provides
general information focusing on minors, confidentiality and reporting
of abuse and neglect in Title X settings. Given that each state may
have different laws or guidelines regarding the reporting of statutory
rape, JSI created state specific manuals. Each manual contains information
on reporting laws for statutory rape, sexual coercion and definition
of "minor," which differs from state to state. The manuals
can be accessed on our website.
To order copies, please contact Amy Behrens at abehrens@jsi.com
or download from below links.
A Manual for Title X Providers: Confidential Services and Reporting
of Child Abuse and Neglect in MA, CT,
NH, VT,
ME, or RI
editions. (pdf)
Click here to see a list of all of the
Training Center's publications.
