Question

If someone violates someone sexually but claims they didn't mean it sexually, is it still considered sexual abuse/assault?

Answer

Great question. Sexual abuse/assault is defined by the nature of the act and its impact on the person who experienced it, not by the claimed intentions of the person who caused harm. If someone touches another person's private areas or engages in sexualized behavior that violates boundaries, that's sexual in nature regardless of what they say they meant to do.

This is particularly important to understand because people who cause sexual harm often deny sexual intent as a way to minimize their actions or avoid responsibility. They might say things like "I was just playing" or "It wasn't meant that way," but these explanations don't change the sexual nature of the violation or its impact on the person who experienced it.

Your experience and its impact on you are valid, regardless of what the other person claims about their intentions. Thank you for asking this.