DV/SV Definitions Page 1
DV/SV Basics
What is Domestic Violence?
“A pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors, including physical, sexual and psychological attacks, as
well as economic coercion, that adults or adolescents use against their intimate partners to gain or
maintain power and control.”
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Ann Ganley, Ph.D, 1998
Examples of abuse include:
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name-calling or putdowns
keeping a partner from contacting their family or friends
withholding money
stopping a partner from getting or keeping a job
withholding needed medications or treatment
actual or threatened physical harm
sexual humiliation or assault
stalking
intimidation
Breaking it down:
Domestic violence (DV) or intimate partner violence (IPV) is about one partner (or former partner) trying
to have power and control over another partner.
In Alaska law, domestic violence also includes when people like relatives, in-laws, or roommates commit
abusive acts.
What does domestic violence look like? A person who is trying to have power and control can do this in
many different ways. The wheel below from the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project in Duluth,
Minnesota illustrates some common ways that abusive partners do this, but there are other ways too.
(Note that while the wheel uses “he” and “she,” domestic violence can be committed by someone of
any gender and sexual orientation against someone of any gender and sexual orientation).
DV/SV Definitions Page 2
What is Sexual Violence?
“Sexual violence (SV) is any sexual act that is perpetrated against someone's will. SV encompasses a
range of offenses, including a completed nonconsensual sex act (i.e., rape), an attempted
nonconsensual sex act, abusive sexual contact (i.e., unwanted touching), and non-contact sexual abuse
(e.g., threatened sexual violence, exhibitionism, verbal sexual harassment)... All types involve victims
who do not consent, or who are unable to consent or refuse to allow the act.”
-
Centers for Disease
Control (CDC)
DV/SV Definitions Page 3
Breaking it down:
Just like domestic violence, sexual violence can be committed by someone of any gender and sexual
orientation against someone of any gender and sexual orientation.
Sexual violence is any kind of sexual contact (meaning anything from kissing or touching to
penetration) without consent.
What is consent?
Everyone has a right to consent.
Consent is an active, clear, verbal agreement to engage in intimate or sexual activity, and it is
something both parties give willingly (not because they’re guilted or pressured or threatened into it).
Kind of like this:
It’s also specific, which means consenting to kissing, for example, doesn’t mean consenting to do more.
Or consenting to one sex act doesn’t mean consenting to another.
And you know what? Even if you consent but then change your mind and don’t want to do something
anymore, the other person has to respect that. Because consent has to be present the whole time.
Also, sometimes people can’t consent, either because they are:
 drunk or high or blacked out or asleep (not of a clear mind); or
 too young; or
 one person has authority over the other (like a teacher and student, or prison guard and
prisoner)
Check it out: Teens Acting Against Violence (TAAV) in Bethel, AK made this Youtube video about consent.
To better understand Alaska Sexual Assault laws, click here.
To better understand Alaska Sexual Abuse of a Minor laws (including laws about age and age
differences), click here and look at Section 434 through 445.
DV/SV Definitions Page 4
What is Reproductive Coercion?
Reproductive Coercion involves behaviors that a partner uses to maintain power and control in a
relationship that are related to reproductive health. These behaviors can include:
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Explicit attempts to get a girl or woman pregnant against her wishes (for example, by
pressuring or threatening her)
Controlling outcomes of a pregnancy (threatening her if she chooses to terminate the
pregnancy, forcing her to terminate the pregnancy, or causing her to miscarry)
Coercing a partner to have unprotected sex (for example, refusing to use condoms or
threatening the partner if they want to discuss protection)
Interfering with birth control methods (for example, throwing away or hiding birth control pills,
poking holes in condoms or taking them off during intercourse, or pulling out IUDs)
Victims of reproductive coercion are at risk for unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections
(STI’s), and other health risks.
For a brief news story on the role of health care providers in addressing reproductive coercion, click
here.
What is Child maltreatment?
“Child maltreatment is any act or series of acts by a parent, caregiver, or any person in position of
authority over a child that results in harm, potential harm, or threat of harm to a child.”
This includes, but is not limited to:
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physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; and
physical and emotional neglect.
To learn more about Alaska’s child maltreatment laws, click here.
Centers for Disease
Control (CDC)