In the classification of sex crimes, few people think to punish and pursue cases of public harassment.
However, rubbing against a stranger in public, or frotteurism, is a widespread problem found across the world, especially in high-density population areas.
As any sort of non-consensual sexual contact is punishable under the law, frotteurism usually receives misdemeanor charges in the courts, meaning that convicted people do not spend time in jail.
Instead, it is common that psychiatric evaluation and treatment will be assigned to that person.
The usual scenario for non-consensual rubbing contact comes in heavily packed train cars, buses, or concerts and other public events.
Most of these cases occur with males inappropriately touching females, although there have been cases of females touching males, females touching females, males touching males, and even adults touching children, although this can be charged as sexually abusing a child.
Often, the victim in these cases is packed into such a tight space that they would not be able to respond quickly or at all without even greater discomfort.
In Japan and India especially, the problem has become so widespread that special train cars and buses have been converted to women-only spaces, where the primary threat of male-on-female frotteurism can be most easily combated.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, frotteurism, as a disorder, requires the person to have had a sexual urge of rubbing up against a stranger without consent within the past six months, and then acting upon this urge by either physically or verbally harassing someone.
Frotteurism is the non-consensual act, while frottage is the name for consensual rubbing.
In the case of frottage, is it still illegal to commit this act in public.
All sexual acts are supposed to be reserved for private spaces and homes.
If you have any questions concerning the legality of any similar act, it is best to consult a sex crimes attorney to learn more.