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Sexual Assault - Myths vs. Reality
There are many myths about why sexual assaults occur. If one understands the myths versus the realities of sexual assault, the opportunity for one occurring can be reduced.
MYTH
Sexual assault is a crime of passion and lust.
REALITY
Sexual assault is a crime of violence. Assailants seek to dominate, humiliate and punish their victims.
MYTH
You cannot be assaulted against your will.
REALITY
Assailants overpower their victim with the threat of violence or with actual violence. In cases of acquaintance rape or incest, an assailant often uses the victim's trust of the assailant to isolate the victim.
MYTH
A person who has really been assaulted will be hysterical.
REALITY
Survivors exhibit a spectrum of emotional responses to the assault: calm, hysteria, laughter, guilt, apathy, shock. Each survivor copes with the trauma of the assault in a different way.
MYTH
Sexual assault is an impulsive act.
REALITY
Seventy-five (75%) percent of all assaults are planned in advance. When three or more assailants are involved, 90% are planned. If two assailants are involved, 83%. With one assailant, 58% are planned.
MYTH
Assailants are usually crazed psychopaths who do not know their victims.
REALITY
As many as 80% of all assaults involve either a known acquaintance, or someone the victim has had contact with, but does not know personally.
MYTH
Gang rape is rare.
REALITY
In 43% of all reported cases, more than one assailant was involved.
MYTH
Many women claim they have been sexually assaulted because they want revenge upon the man they accuse.
REALITY
Only 4% - 6% of sexual assault cases are based on false accusations. This percentage of unsubstantiated cases is the same as with many other reported crimes.
MYTH
Persons who dress or act in a sexy way are asking to be sexually assaulted.
REALITY
Many convicted sexual assault assailants are unable to remember what their victims looked like or were wearing.
MYTH
All women secretly want to be raped.
REALITY
While women and men may fantasize about being overpowered during sexual relations, it is usually with a person of their choosing, who they trust. They are in control of the fantasy. No one wants the physical and emotional pain caused by a sexual assault.
MYTH
Only young, pretty women are assaulted.
REALITY
There is no such thing as a "typical victim". Both men and women are assaulted by both male and female assailants. Victims have ranged in age from newborns to 100 years old.
MYTH
It is impossible to sexually assault a man.
REALITY
Men fall victim for the same reasons as women; they are overwhelmed by threats or acts of physical and emotional violence. Also, most sexual assaults that involve a male victim are gang assaults, by other males.
MYTH
If you do not struggle or use physical force to resist you have not been sexually assaulted.
REALITY
If you are forced to have sex without your consent, you have been assaulted whether or not a struggle was involved.