Touching the Genital Region is Never an Accident

Touching the Genital Region is Never an Accident

 

Sexual assault is a national and global problem. In the United States, there were over 430,00 sexual assaults in 2023. One in six women and one in 33 men were sexually assaulted in that year. We also know that 70-80% of all sexual assaults are never reported, which means the number we are using is much lower than the reality. The high percentage of sexual violence, especially against women and children, is similar around the world.

 

A healthy sexual encounter is ideally an act of love, pleasure, and excitement. In contrast, rape or any sexual abuse is an act of power, control, and violence against another person.

 

The Trauma of Sexual Assault

Sexual abuse is a traumatic event that a person deals with for a minimum of decades and often for the rest of their life. Sexual misconduct occurs in many professions by people who are in a more powerful position than the victim. Rape is also rampant in wars around the world. Inappropriate sexual behavior also occurs in the massage profession by very few disturbed individuals who often prey on more than one victim.

 

 

A Massage Therapist Should Never Touch the Genitals

The genital region should never be touched in a massage session under any circumstance, even by accident. I am familiar with multiple cases of fingers repeatedly touching or brushing against a woman’s pubic hair, her labia, as well as being inserted into the vagina.  Not as common, but men are also assaulted and suffer the same traumatic life-changing effects.

 

It’s Never an Accident

Touching the genital region in a massage session is never an accident. In almost every case of digital rape I have testified in, the person freezes the moment the assault occurs and is unable to move or speak.  A few women respond immediately to stop the abusive behavior, but most do not. But even if they stop it, the trauma is still profound and life-altering.

 

Client’s Freeze and Go Into Shock

At this point, they are experiencing sexual trauma and often go into a state of shock.  A predator therapist may incorrectly interpret this passive reaction as agreement with what is being done when the client is frozen in fear. When your body goes into shock, a kind of paralysis sets in. The person is incapacitated, unable to fight back or take action to stop the assault. This commonly creates a continuing profound sense of guilt that, after the incident, often berate themselves that they didn’t say something or do something to stop the person from assaulting them.

 

There are Devastating Effects

The results of such an event frequently include loss of the ability to have sexual relations with their partner or even be intimately touched, inability to concentrate, diminished work capacity, night sweats, nightmares, and flashbacks, to name a few of the effects of sexual trauma.

 

Any touching of a client’s genital region during a massage, even by accident, is never acceptable and is only done by therapists who are sexual predators. These predator therapists often claim that their hand slipped, it was an accident, or the client wanted it, showed interest and not resistance, and touched them first.

 

Sexual assault during a massage can destroy a person’s life for years to come. The effects are devastating and life changing. There are many steps a spa can take to create a safer environment and screen for predator therapists and individuals with predatory tendencies. My Sexual Assault Prevention Guidelines give every spa owner a guide to the best practices for hiring, screening, and continuous monitoring.

 

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If you’re a lawyer who is currently involved in a sexual assault case and needs an expert witness with a massage or spa background, schedule a conversation with Dr. Benjamin here.

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Ben E. Benjamin holds a Ph.D. in Sports Medicine and has been an expert witness in cases of sexual assault in a massage/spa setting since 2004, advising lawyers, testifying in depositions and trials, and writing reports. His expertise extends beyond massage therapy and ethical behavior. He also advises spas, both large and small, on the creation of comprehensive sexual assault prevention strategies that ensure safe and ethical practices in the industry.