i'm not sure when it changes. i think that sexual abuse/rape are one in the same. they both suck!!!! i have been sexually abused when i was a child, ages 9-12. but i remember having sex with a boy, who was not an abuser at age 11. i think it's a very thin line between rape and sexual abuse. i have also been raped 3 times. to me, it felt the same as the abuse. at least emotionally it was the same. i'll ask my therapist and see what she says. maybe she can shed some light on this for both of us. stay in touch. maybe we can help each other.

I think the difference lies with the actual actions. I think sexual abuse is touching and feeling and rape is actually having intercourse without your consent. I'm not sure, but that's how I'd classify them.

http://www.students.haverford.edu/masar/documents/PARapeLaws.pdf

Hope this helps answer your question

bump

it can be sexual abuse or rape at any age. sexual abuse can include rape and rape can be part of sexual abuse. one does not automatically mean the other but they can occur simultaneously.

sexual abuse is the entire span of sexual actions (molesting, watching someone get undressed, masturbating in front of someone/forcing them to masturbate you, etc) while rape is intercourse without your consent, when you are too young to give consent, OR, with your consent but your consent was forced in some way.

rape is penetration against your consent, sexual abuse is unwanted sexual acts or actions done to or in front of you that don't include pentatration digital or otherwise (I think). Rape knows no age limit, that's why there is rape of a minor and rape charges. Age of consent doesn't come into rape because a minor cannot understand consent and No means No at any age.