What are rape myths?
Rape myths are widely held, inaccurate beliefs about rape and victims of rape. These myths provide a false sense of security to individuals by legitimizing sexual assault and blaming the victim for their experience or making excuses for the perpetrator and minimizing their assault. These myths perpetuate sexual assault by not addressing the realities of rape.
Myth: Rape doesn't happen very often.
Fact: Every 2 and a half minute another person is raped in the United States. 1 out of 5 college women are victims of sexual assault.
Myth: I don't know anyone who's ever been raped.
Fact: Rape victims are doctors, teachers, nurses, checkout clerks, mothers, construction workers, accountants, engineers or anyone. You definitely have people in your life who have experienced sexual assault; you may just not know who it is due to underreporting of this crime.
Myth: Sexual assault is an impulsive, spontaneous, uncontrollable act of passion.
Fact: Rape is an act of violence, not of sexual desire. More rapes are carefully planned with place arranged, enticements used, victims deliberately sought, and coerced into sex.
Myth: Most rapists only rape one time.
Fact: Most rapists rape again, and again, and again - until caught. So, if someone has sexually assaulted you, it is likely that they are going to assault someone else if not reported.
Myth: Women frequently cry rape to get revenge or because they had sex and changed their minds.
Fact: Rape is the most underreported crime in the country. The FBI reports that only 2% of rapes reports are given falsely. This is the same report rate for other felonies.
Myth: Men can't be raped.
Fact: Men can be raped and sexually assaulted regardless of their size, strength, appearance, occupation, race or sexual orientation. Current statistics indicate that 1 in 33 men are sexually assaulted or abused in their lifetime. Most sexual assaults that involve a male victim are gang assaults. It is not unusual for men to "freeze" during an assault as men rarely entertain the possibility of being sexually assaulted and are totally unprepared.
Myth: Rape only happens to young attractive women.
Fact: Anyone can be raped regardless of their age, sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical appearance, marital status, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, etc.
Myth: Most rapes occur in a dark alley by a stranger. Stay at home and you will be safe.
Fact: Most often rape occurs in either the victim's or offender's home, apartment or dormitory. Four out of five times, the rapist is known by the victim in some way and the rape is carefully planned.
Myth: Gang rape is rare
Fact: In 43% of all reported cases, more than one assailant was involved.
Myth: If a woman isn't a virgin or/and has had many sexual partners then she cannot be sexually assaulted.
Fact: A person's sexuality is their personal affair and does not forfeit their right to say 'no' to sexual contact at any time. Consent must be freely given each time two people are intimate with each other.
Myth: Victims ask for it by their actions or by the way they dress.
Fact: No other crime victim is looked upon with the degree of suspicion and doubt as a victim of rape. Research data clearly proves that a way a woman dresses and / or acts does not influence the rapist’s choice of victims. Rapists are looking for available and vulnerable targets. To assume that someone wants to be raped is no different from assuming someone wants to get murdered or robbed. Most rapes are dangerous, degrading, and humiliating for the victim. No person would ask for or deserve such an attack.
Myth: You cannot be assaulted against your will. If you don’t fight back it is not rape.
Fact: Rape is a crime of violence and confronted with the fear of being beaten or killed, many victims do not attempt to fight an attacker. So lack of resistance should not be equated with consent. Whatever a person does to survive the assault is the appropriate action. Many mugging victims hand over their possessions to remain safe, and they did not ask to get mugged.
Myth: Your boyfriend/partner can’t rape you since you have already been sexually intimate with them.
Fact: Any forced sexual act without your consent is rape, whether the offender is a stranger or your partner.