Addressing common myths

True or False?

1. Sexual assault usually occurs because people cannot control their wild, spontaneous passion.

2. Most rapists are well adjusted. They may be well-liked and popular.

3. Bad girls get raped, not good girls.

4. Forced sexually behavior isn’t a crime if the two people have been dating a long time and have had sex many times before.

5. Women who try to resist rape are likely to get injured badly

 

1. FALSE—sexual assault is an act of violence, not of sex.

2. TRUE—society can depict rapists as crazed and obviously violent, but in reality they may appear normal.

3.FALSE—this myth supports gender-stereotyping beliefs that girls should act a certain way. This belief allows people to justify rape as a type of punishment

4. FALSE—sexual assault is any forced sexual activity no matter the circumstance, and it is a crime

5.FALSE—women who resist are most likely to get away and least likely to get injured. 75-80% of women who actively resist sexual assault attempts escape being raped

Other myths:

"Male victims are usually gay"—this is supported by the prejudiced belief that homosexual men are weaker than heterosexual men, that they aren't “real” men. This is also harmful for heterosexual men as well because it denies their experience and pain.

"Rape is a minor crime affecting only a few women"—by denying the extent, frequency, and severity of rape, violence against women throughout our society is allowed to continue. 1 in 8 women will experience rape in her life time!

"Women frequently 'cry rape' just to get back at someone who has  made them mad"—this denies women the legitimacy to declare when their own bodies have been violated. It reinforces the sexist beliefs that women are not credible, but rather emotional and irrational.

"Women who flirt or wear sexy clothes are just 'asking for it'"—this supports the myth that women have to fit into a certain mold, and those who step outside of that mold are going to suffer. This doesn’t hold men accountable for their actions. It makes violence a punishment for women who haven't conformed to the image of a proper woman.

"Once a male is aroused there is little he can do to control it"—this take the blame away from the rapist and puts in on the victim.