sexual abuse

Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is forcing undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or (often pejoratively) molester. The term also covers any behavior by any adult or older adolescent towards a child to stimulate any of the involved sexually. When the victim is younger than the age of consent, it is referred to as statutory rape or child sexual abuse.