Reality: Blaming the survivor is used as a tool to rationalize why such a horrific crime happened. No person should be sexually assaulted because of how they walk, dress, or act.
Myth: Nice girls don't get sexually assaulted - she must have secretly wanted it
Reality: No one wants to be sexually assaulted; it is not enjoyed, expected, or 'asked for.' It is a crime of violence, degradation, and humiliation resulting from the perpetrator's disregard and lack of concern for the personal sanctity and wishes of another.
Myth: Only young, beautiful women are sexually assaulted
Reality: Sexual assault can happen to babies, the elderly, and people in every age group in between. Men are also sexually assaulted. Vulnerability, or perceived vulnerability, not physical appearance, is the major factor in sexual assault. Sexual assault cuts across lines of race, sex, class, age, sexual orientation, and background.
Reality: Sexual assault can happen to babies, the elderly, and people in every age group in between. Men are also sexually assaulted. Vulnerability, or perceived vulnerability, not physical appearance, is the major factor in sexual assault. Sexual assault cuts across lines of race, sex, class, age, sexual orientation, and background.
Myth: It's only rape if the survivor puts up a fight and resists
Reality: Just because a person did not physically put up a fight, does not mean that s/he consented to sexual activity. There are many reasons why a survivor may not put up a fight to resist their attacker. They may feel that fighting or resisting will make their attacker angry, resulting in more severe injury. They may not fight or resist as a coping mechanism for dealing with the trauma or because they are not physically able to do so due to injury, intoxication, or disability. Myth: All survivors of sexual assault will report the crime immediately to the police. If they do not, they're lying.
Reality: There are many reasons why a sexual assault survivor may not report the assault to the police. It is not easy to talk about being sexually assaulted for many people. Other reasons for not immediately reporting or not reporting at all may include: fear of retaliation by the offender, fear of not being believed, fear of being blamed for the assault, fear of being "revictimized" if the case goes through the criminal justice system, belief that the offender will not be held accountable, wanting to forget the assault ever happened, not realizing that what happened was sexual assault, shame, and/or shock. Because a person chooses not to report at all or does not report immediately, does not mean the assault never occurred.
Reality: There are many reasons why a sexual assault survivor may not report the assault to the police. It is not easy to talk about being sexually assaulted for many people. Other reasons for not immediately reporting or not reporting at all may include: fear of retaliation by the offender, fear of not being believed, fear of being blamed for the assault, fear of being "revictimized" if the case goes through the criminal justice system, belief that the offender will not be held accountable, wanting to forget the assault ever happened, not realizing that what happened was sexual assault, shame, and/or shock. Because a person chooses not to report at all or does not report immediately, does not mean the assault never occurred.
Myth: If a person goes to his or her date's room in a house or goes to the bar, he or she assumes the risk of sexual assault.
Reality: This "assumption of risk" wrongfully places the responsibility of the offender's actions with the victim. Even if a person went voluntarily to someone's residence or room and consented to engage in some sexual activity, it does not serve as a blanket consent for all sexual activity. Explicit consent should be given for every stage of sexual activity.
Reality: This "assumption of risk" wrongfully places the responsibility of the offender's actions with the victim. Even if a person went voluntarily to someone's residence or room and consented to engage in some sexual activity, it does not serve as a blanket consent for all sexual activity. Explicit consent should be given for every stage of sexual activity.
Myth: If she was drinking, it was her fault she got raped
Reality: Alcohol is often used to blame the survivor while simultaneously it is used to excuse the perpetrator. This reasoning is masked behind our cultural expectations for women and men in terms of sexuality; women are expected to be the gatekeepers, while men are expected to be the aggressors. Hence, there is an assumption that she shouldn't have made herself vulnerable, and he was only doing what was natural in that out-of-control drunkenness. Responsibility for the rape is wrongly displaced from the perpetrator to the victim in this way. If a person is drunk, they are incapable of giving consent.
Reality: Alcohol is often used to blame the survivor while simultaneously it is used to excuse the perpetrator. This reasoning is masked behind our cultural expectations for women and men in terms of sexuality; women are expected to be the gatekeepers, while men are expected to be the aggressors. Hence, there is an assumption that she shouldn't have made herself vulnerable, and he was only doing what was natural in that out-of-control drunkenness. Responsibility for the rape is wrongly displaced from the perpetrator to the victim in this way. If a person is drunk, they are incapable of giving consent.
Myth: The primary motive for sexual assault is sexual
Reality: Sexual assault is an act of power, humiliation, and violence that is achieved through act of forcible sex.
Reality: Sexual assault is an act of power, humiliation, and violence that is achieved through act of forcible sex.
Myth: Rape is an impulsive act; rapists are motivated by an uncontrollable sexual desire
Reality: Eighty to ninety percent of all rapes are pre-planned. Both the place and the victim are usually decided on beforehand. Rape is not a crime about sex, but rather a violent crime about power and control. The rapist's primary goal is not sexual satisfaction, but to control, hurt, and humiliate the survivor.
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