Sexual Assualt - Myth vs fact
1) Myth: Most rapes are spontaneous and planned.
Fact: Most rapists plan their attacks, just as most other criminals plan their crimes.
2) Myth: Rape occurs because most men lack sexual outlets.
Fact: Most rapists are sexual active in consenting relationships at the time of the assault.
3) Myth: Sex offenders are “dirty old men”.
Fact: Most sex offenders are between 15-35 years of age. In 98% of reported cases, the offender is male, but some women can also be abusive.
4) Myth: Submissive behavior guarantees personal safety.
Fact: Some women are brutalized even though they choose not to physically fight their rapist. Assertive resistance may prevent an attach or cause the rapist to inflict further violence. Women have options and can be trained to evaluate what they can do in different situations.
5) Myth: Hard and fast rules exist for rape avoidance.
Fact: Strategies for rape avoidance are important but their effectiveness cannot be guaranteed.
6) Myth: Women are rarely abused in domestic relationships
Fact: The Attorney General of California estimates that at least 50% of all married women will be assaulted by their husbands at sometime during their relationship.
7) Myth: Most victims who suffer more than a minimal trauma were already emotional and unstable prior to assault.
Fact: Sexual assault is a sever emotional trauma far all victims.
8) Myth: Women are responsible for rape.
Fact: Only rapist is responsible for their acts. 98% of all rapists are men. Men can prevent rape by not raping.
9) Myth: Most sexual assaults occur in dark alleys and similar places.
Fact: Up to two-thirds of sexual assault take place at the victim’s home, some other residence, or in a car.
10) Myth: A wife cannot be raped by her husband.
Fact: Martial rape is a felony in the states of California. It is a basic human right to engage in or refuse participation in sexual relations. Regardless of the situation, when one-person states that he does not wish to be the sexual partner of another and is the forced or coerced into a sexual act, an assault has occurred.
11) Myth: Immediately after a rape the victim is usually hysterical.
Fact: Victims have one to two styles. They are either visibly emotionally upset, or because they are experiencing denial and disbelief, may show no feelings. These styles Occur in roughly equal numbers.
12) Myth: Sexual assault and physical abuse are caused mostly by their victim’s behavior.
Fact: There is no evidence to demonstrate that women who are sexually assaulted or abused behave any differently from women who are not.
13) Myth: Men who rape other men are usually homosexuals.
Fact: Most rapists who rape men consider themselves to be heterosexual.
14) Myth: Rape happens almost exclusively in economically depressed areas.
Fact: Rape occurs everywhere. Rapists come from all socio-economic levels.
15) Myth: Sex offenders are usually strangers to their victims.
Fact: 85% of child victims and 50-70% adult victims know their assailant.
16) Myth: Women who hitchhike or go to bars alone are unconsciously asking to be raped.
Fact: No one asks to be sexually assaulted. A persons life situation may place her or him in a vulnerable position or a person may act in ways society believes as asking for it, or a person may act in ways that are in conflict with your won personal value system, but no one is asking to be sexually assaulted.
17) Myth: Sexual assault is caused by uncontrollable sex drives.
Fact: Sexual assault is an act of physical and emotional violence not of sexual gratification
18) Myth: Women provoke sexual assault, and sex appeal is of prime importance is selecting targets.
Fact: Sexual assault victims range in age from infants to the elderly. Appearance and attractiveness are not relevant. A rapist assaults someone who is accessible and vulnerable.
19) Myth: In the majority of cases, minority men assault white women.
Fact: 93% of all sexual assaults occur between people of the same race.
20) Myth: False reports of sexual assault are common.
Fact: Studies and FBI statistics show a 2-4% false reports rate for sexual assault – the same as for felony reports, including burglary and homicide.
21) Myth: A woman can spot a rapist should one approach her.
Fact: As in the case of other crimes, it is not always possible to recognize a rapist beforehand, especially if he is a friend or relative.
22) Myth: Most sexual assaults on children are physically violent.
Fact: Most young victims are threatened, tricked, or bribed into sexual contact that they do not want. Subtle approaches are far more common that the use of extreme force. Physical harm occurs in less that 5% of reported cases.
23) Myth: Sexual abuse of children is usually a one-time assault.
Fact: It is common for abuse to occur more than once. It most often occurs in the victim or offenders home, the average incest situation lasts seven years.
24) Myth: A healthy woman cannot be raped.
Fact: The most common feeling experienced by rape victims is fear of mutilation and death. Most victims eventually “cooperate” with the rapist because they fear they will die if they do not. In most instances a man’s height, weight, and brute force can subdue a women. In addition, there are the elements of surprise, disbelief, and fear and of course, often a weapon. A woman can never be sure she will not be killed. Survival is utmost in her mind and she will do whatever is necessary to survive the attack.
25) Myth: Men do not have to be concerned about sexual assault, because it only affects women.
Fact: Men, both heterosexual and gay, are also vulnerable to sexual assault. In addition men have wives, mothers, and daughters who may someday need to cope with the aftereffects of sexual assault. Lastly, rape will not cease until men stop raping.