Abstract
This project provide compelling reasons to rethink our conceptual approach to sexual violation and aims to develop an expanded framework into which digital and virtual reality (VR) sexual transgressions can fit. This work is needed due to the lack analysis of the "gray cases" in sexual violations, where current definitions of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment are insufficient to recognize them, as recent cases of alleged sexual assault in VR show. The problem with these terms lies in the lack of attention to the nature of the environment in which these transgressions occur, where separate notions of body, sexual activity, and harm must be considered for appropriate treatment. This research is achieved by 1) reconceptualizing the notion of body and sexual activity in digital and VR spaces, 2) identifying overlooked sexual transgressions using this reconceptualization, 3) analyzing whether virtual sexual transgressions should be treated as analogous to or different from real-world violations, and 4) developing an upgraded taxonomy of sexual violations. At the conclusion, the proposed taxonomy will serve as a framework for sexual violations by providing a structured, accessible classification system and ensuring that digital and VR sexual transgressions are appropriately recognized and addressed.
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