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Sexual Assault Is

Rape Myths and Facts

Myth: A rapist is easy to spot in a crowd.

Fact: There is nothing about individuals who rape which distinguishes them from others, including their psychological profiles. Rapists come from all races, ethnic or socioeconomic groups. They can be large or small, able-bodied or disabled, married or single. What we do know is that most rapists identify as heterosexual, even if their victims are male, and they rarely go to jail for their first offense; in fact, studies of adolescent offenders indicate that most began committing sexual assaults when they were very young. Some studies show that a person has committed twelve sexual assaults before being identified by law enforcement as a perpetrator.

Myth: Self-defense just isn't ladylike.

Fact: It may not be ladylike, but it is womanlike. Passive behavior only became a measure of how women should behave in the last few centuries. As anthropologists and historians rediscover more and more about women's history, they find that women have actively resisted male violence since long before the invention of patriarchy or the development of “good manners”.

Myth: Fighting back incites a rapist to violence.

Fact: Most rapists pick out potential victims they believe may be good targets without a fight. They actually may even test these women nonverbally or verbally before determining whether or not to attack. Studies of rape avoidance behavior have shown that the more options a woman knows, the more psychologically ready she is to resist. Both verbal and physical resistance may actually lessen the severity of injury in some instances. What is most important to remember is that no one can tell another person what is right or wrong in a dangerous situation. Only s/he knows her/his own abilities, can assess the assailant's behavior, and can determine what the possibilities are. Knowing options may prevent feeling paralyzed by fear and may also help the survivor understand that submission is also a viable form of self-protection.

Myth: People who don't fight back haven't been raped.

Fact: A person has been raped when forced to have sex against your will, whether you fight back or not.

Myth: If there's no gun or knife, you haven't been raped.

Fact: It's rape whether the rapist uses a weapon or his fists, verbal threats, drugs or alcohol, physical isolation, your own diminished physical or mental state, or simply the weight of his body to overcome you.

Myth: It's not really rape if the victim isn't a virgin.

Fact: Rape is rape, even if the woman or man is not a virgin and even if she or he willingly had sex with the perpetrator at another time.

Myth: Men can't be sexually assaulted.

Fact: Between one in six and one in ten males are sexually assaulted - mostly by heterosexual men. A majority of male survivors were assaulted when they were children or teenagers, yet adult men can be assaulted as well. Another misconception is that male victims must be gay. Most male survivors are heterosexual, although gay men are assaulted on dates as well. Also, hate violence against gays is on the rise. Like assaults against women, this is a crime of power and violence.

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