Sexual Assault - Myths vs Facts
MYTH
If a woman doesn't put up a fight, she wasn't actually raped.
FACT
In most cases, the victim is unable to fight back do to trauma, impairment, fear, or
other factors.
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MYTH
Sexual assault and rape are usually "he said/she said" communication problems.
FACT
There are many ways to say "no," both verbally and nonverbally. Assailants chose to
continue despite receiving clear messages that the other person is uncomfortable.
They chose to try to "make them relax" rather than backing off. Many
perpetrators will testify that the sex was consensual,
minimizing the extent to which the survivor was pressured or coerced.
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MYTH
Women can avoid being raped by dressing sensibly, not acting "sexy," not getting drunk, and not going out alone at night.
FACT
There is no causal link between a woman's clothing and social behavior and crimes of violence. Nothing a person does or wears causes a brutal crime like sexual assault.
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MYTH
Only attractive young women are assaulted.
FACT
Survivors range in age from infancy to old age, and their appearance is seldom a consideration. Assailants often choose victims who seem most vulnerable to attack: old persons, children, physically or emotionally disabled persons, substance abusers, and street persons.
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MYTH
Many people lie about being raped.
FACT
Only 2-8% of sexual assault cases are based on false accusation. This percentage of unsubstantiated cases is the same as with many other reported crimes.
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MYTH
Assailants are usually crazed psychopaths or leering men on a dark street corner.
FACT
Assailants can be charming, convincing, or even someone you know intimately, like a coworker, a friend or a family member.
66% of rapes were committed by someone the victim knew
28% of rapes were committed by an intimate partner and
7% of rapes were committed by a relative of the victim
73% of sexual assaults were known by the victim
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MYTH
Men rape because they cannot control their sexual urges.
FACT
There is no medical evidence to substantiate that men biologically have uncontrollable sexual urges. Rape is an act of violence committed out of desire for power and control.
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MYTH
It is impossible for a boyfriend or girlfriend to sexually assault their partner.
FACT
Regardless of relationship status, if a person does not consent to sexual activity, he or she is being sexually assaulted.
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MYTH
Sexual assault is a crime of passion and lust.
FACT
Sexual assault is a crime of violence. Assailants seek to dominate, humiliate and punish their victims, and most sexual assaults are planned events.
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MYTH
A person who has really been assaulted will be hysterical.
FACT
Survivors exhibit a spectrum of emotional responses to assault: calm, hysteria, laughter, anger, apathy, shock. Each survivor copes with the trauma of the assault in a different way.
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MYTH
It is impossible to sexually assault a man.
FACT
Men fall victim for the same reasons as women: they are overwhelmed by threats or acts of physical and emotional violence.
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MYTH
Men who get an erection or ejaculate during a sexual assault gave consent or enjoyed the assault.
FACT
Erection and ejaculation are physiological responses that can't be controlled and can even result from stress. An erection or ejaculation does not equal consent.
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MYTH
A "real" man can and should always be able to resist an assault.
FACT
It is common for both men and women to freeze during a sexual assault and in some cases drugs, alcohol or the presence of a weapon or the threat of other force or injury can prevent someone from fighting their assailant.
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MYTH
Jealousy in a relationship is a sign of love.
FACT
When a person continually accuses their partner of flirting or cheating, and is suspicious of everyone in their partner's life, it is possessive and controlling behavior, not love.
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MYTH
When someone hits their girlfriend or boyfriend, that person must have provoked the behavior in some way.
FACT
While anger can be provoked during an argument, abuse is a choice the perpetrator makes to establish control during the argument. It is an intentional act or set of acts designed to force the abused partner to submit to the will of the abuser.
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MYTH
People in abusive relationships stay because they enjoy being abused.
FACT
People who are abused by their partner do not stay in the relationship because they enjoy maltreatment. They may stay for practical or emotional reasons including love, fear of reprisal, economic factors, social isolation or shame, or to keep a family together.
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MYTH
A relationship is not abusive if there is no physical abuse.
FACT
Perpetrators of violence maintain control over the victim by using physical, sexual, economic or emotional violence, or threats of violence.
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