Chronic sexual violation

Intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) remains under-theorised compared to other aspects of domestic abuse. One reason for this is the challenge of recognising and articulating the specificity of IPSV without positioning it as a lesser form of violation than ‘real rape’. The concept of ‘chronic sexual violation’ articulated in this chapter is an attempt to meet this challenge. It will begin by locating this challenge in the history of the (non)recognition of IPSV and feminist attempts to remedy this. It will then set up ‘chronic’ and ‘acute’ sexual violation as distinct, but not more or less severe, modes of sexual violation. It will then proceed to elaborate an assemblage of behaviours that can constitute chronic sexual violation, including unwanted touching, privacy violations, sexual humiliation, reproductive coercion and sexual demands. The chapter will conclude with some suggestions as to how the concept of chronic sexual violation might inform law and policy.