Sexual Assault, Relationship Abuse, and Harassment
Approaching Sexual Assault, Relationship Abuse, and Harassment Situations Through a Bystander Intervention Lens
Men and women alike experience abuse and harassment.
Over 33% of women and 25% of men in the U.S. have experienced sexual assault, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner.
Source: CDS/NISVS via National Domestic Violence Hotline..
Sexual assault, relationship abuse, and harassment are distinct forms of interpersonal harm that often fall under Title IX and related policies.
Sexual assault is frequently what brings individuals and institutions to seek training; however, bystanders are often more likely to notice behaviors related to relationship abuse and harassment in everyday settings.
- Sexual assault involves non-consensual sexual contact or behavior.
- Relationship abuse is defined by patterns of power, control, and coercion within an intimate or ongoing relationship and does not require sexual violence to be present.
- Harassment includes unwelcome verbal, nonverbal, digital, or physical conduct that violates personal boundaries or creates a hostile environment and does not require a relationship.
These behaviors may occur independently or overlap, but one does not require the presence of another. Because they are often minimized, normalized, or misunderstood, bystanders may struggle to recognize harm, assess risk, and determine how to respond.
Step UP! addresses sexual assault, relationship abuse, and harassment through a bystander intervention framework that emphasizes awareness, context, values-based decision-making, and shared responsibility rather than confrontation or enforcement.
What Bystanders May Notice
Situations involving sexual assault, relationship abuse, and harassment are often revealed through observable behaviors, patterns, or interactions rather than a single clear-cut incident:
- Someone being pressured, isolated, incapacitated, or unable to give consent
- Ignoring or dismissing verbal or nonverbal boundaries
- Controlling behaviors such as monitoring, isolation, intimidation, or threats within a relationship
- Repeated unwanted comments, jokes, messages, or attention
- Sexualized language or behavior that creates discomfort or a hostile environment
- Power imbalances related to roles, status, or authority influencing interactions
- Visible discomfort, withdrawal, fear, or changes in behavior from someone who may be experiencing harm
- Online behaviors, messages, or shared content that cross boundaries or target an individual
Challenges
Sexual assault, relationship abuse, and harassment present unique challenges for bystanders due to safety concerns, ambiguity, and relational complexity.
Common challenges include:
- Assessing safety and the risk of escalation, particularly in situations involving control or violence.
- Uncertainty about consent, especially when alcohol or other substances are involved.
- Fear of social, academic, or professional consequences for intervening.
- Strong emotional ties or loyalty to one or more people involved.
- Power dynamics that limit perceived options for action.
- Concern about misinterpreting the situation or overstepping.
- Uncertainty about how the person experiencing harm wants support.
- Cultural or social norms that minimize harassment or normalize control.
- Balancing the desire to help with respect for autonomy and privacy.
Considerations When Helping
There are many ways bystanders may choose to respond in hazing situations. The options below highlight a small selection of common support approaches and are not exhaustive, prescriptive, or required. Appropriate responses will always depend on context, safety, and relationships, and are written in behavioral terms to support thoughtful, flexible action.
In situations involving sexual and relationship harm, attention to power, patterns of behavior, and safety often matters as much as immediate action.
- Prioritize safety.
Assess immediate risk and avoid actions that could escalate harm or put someone in danger. - Interrupt the behavior when possible.
Briefly naming a concern or creating a pause can stop harm without escalating. - Support the person impacted.
Check in, listen without judgment, and respect how they want support. - Use indirect strategies when direct action isn’t safe.
Distraction, redirection, or involving others can reduce harm. - Leverage relationships and roles.
Who you are in the situation may affect what actions are safest or most effective. - Delay and follow up.
Support does not have to happen in the moment; checking in later can still make a meaningful difference. - Document or connect to resources when appropriate.
Patterns of behavior or power imbalances may require additional support or reporting.
How Training Builds Intervention Skills
Step UP! trainings help bystanders develop the awareness and confidence to apply the Step UP! Framework in situations that may involve sexual assault, relationship violence, or harassment concerns. Through realistic scenarios and guided discussion, bystanders practice considering context and relationships and choosing responses that are thoughtful, flexible, and appropriate to situations involving consent, boundaries, power dynamics, and respect.
The Step UP! framework and supplemental strategies help bystanders understand the influences that shape behavior and build the skills needed to respond appropriately. It connects situational awareness, relationship dynamics, and broader social influences with practical intervention tools that align with bystanders’ comfort levels and safety. The training is dynamic, interactive, and participatory, providing a comprehensive approach to bystander intervention across multiple topics.
Helpful Resources
In some situations involving sexual assault, relationship abuse, or harassment, seeking additional support may be the most appropriate course of action.
Helpful resources may include Title IX or compliance offices, confidential advocacy services, counseling or wellness services, campus or workplace safety resources, trusted supervisors or mentors, and local or national support organizations. In cases of immediate danger, emergency or crisis resources should be contacted.
National resources addressing sexual assault, dating and relationship violence, and harassment include:
- RAINN: Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network
The largest national anti-sexual violence organization, offering prevention education, training, crisis intervention resources, and the National Sexual Assault Hotline. - National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
A national hub for sexual violence research, prevention tools, resource libraries, training materials, and awareness campaigns. - National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV)
National coalition supporting prevention, survivor resources, advocacy, and policy efforts across the U.S. - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Sexual Violence Prevention
Authoritative public-health source for data, risk and protective factors, and evidence-based prevention strategies. - Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice
Federal authority on sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking; sets national policy and funds prevention and response efforts. - National Alliance to End Sexual Violence
National coalition representing state and local sexual assault coalitions; central voice in federal policy, survivor-centered prevention, and systems change.
Step UP! reinforces that bystanders are not expected to handle these situations alone. Connecting someone to appropriate resources reflects shared responsibility, sound judgment, and care.
Customized Training That Fits Your Community
Take the next step to customize Step UP! training for your audience:
