Sexual coercion is the non-physical act of pressuring, persuading, tricking, threatening, or otherwise manipulating someone into sex. Though it comes in many forms, sexual coercion can be broken down into four categories – manipulation, persuasion, guilt, and threats. Sex that happens as a result of coercion (even subtle forms) is considered sexual assault. Recognizing sexual coercion can sometimes be difficult, but most people who experience sexual coercion feel a sense of pressure, hesitancy, uncertainty, or uneasiness. To understand sexual coercion fully, it’s important to also develop a nuanced understanding of consent, which requires tuning into one’s own internal sense of desire.