WomensLaw serves and supports all survivors, no matter their sex or gender.

Legal Information: Tennessee

Restraining Orders

View all
Updated: 
November 27, 2023

What is the legal definition of sexual exploitation?

Sexual exploitation is when someone does any of the following things in front of you without your consent and without a valid medical or caregiving purpose:

  • sexual contact as defined by law;
  • showing you his/her genitals;
  • exposing you to sexual acts;
  • exposing your sexual organs; or
  • any other act that the abuser knew or should have known would cause shame, humiliation, or other harm to your personal dignity.1

The reason that the person commits one of these acts could be:

  • for sexual pleasure; or
  • to show (disseminate) the act to others, knowing that it is offensive or embarrassing.1

1 Tenn. Code § 39-15-501(13)

Legal Information

© 2008–2024 WomensLaw.org is a project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, Inc. All rights reserved. This website is funded in part through a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). NNEDV is a 501©(3) non-profit organization; EIN 52-1973408.