RAPE

MYTHS & REALITIES

Myth:  It could never happen to me.

Reality:  Everyone is a potential rape victim:  1 out of 3 women, 2 out of 7 men.  Doesn't matter what age (although women 17 to 18, first year out of high school are highest risk), race, class, religion, occupation, education or physical description.

Myth:  Most rapes occur as a "spur of the moment" act in a dark alley by a stranger.

Reality:  Rape most often occurs in one's home.  Very often (60% to 80%) the offender is a relative, friend, neighbor or other acquaintance of the victim.  Most rapes are carefully planned and a rapist will rape again and again, generally in the same area of town and in the same manner.  50% of sexual assaults occur in the home and as many occur during the daytime as happen at night.

Myth:  Rape is primarily a sexual crime.

Reality:  Rape is a violent assault that is acted out, in part, sexually.  It is a crime of power and control and dominance.  Through psychological and physical abuse it violates the woman's sense of safety and control over her life.  Studies indicate the primary motive in rape is aggression; rapist have an abnormal tendency toward violence coupled with an attitude of contempt toward women.

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

Reality:  Most rapists appear to be perfectly normal men.  Most are married and young, although they can be any age.  They can also be any class, race, education, and profession.

Myth:  Rape is a nonviolent crime.

Reality:  Rape is a violent crime - 87% of rapists with carry a weapon or threaten the victim with violence or death.  Often the actual rape is only a small part of the verbal and physical abuse that can occur during an assault.

Myth:  Rape happens only to young women.

Reality:  Rape victims range in age from 4 months to 96 years, although women are at their highest risk age 17 to 18, first year out of high school and first year at college.  Women of all ages, classes, races, and lifestyles can become victims, as can men and boys.

Myth:  Women are "asking for it" by their dress and actions.

Reality:  Research shows that rapists look for available targets they perceive as vulnerable, not women who dress in a particular way.  When the victims are children, rapist will "groom" them for a long period of time before the actual assault.  No person asks to be hurt or degraded, just as no one asks to be robbed because they are carrying money.  Rape is the responsibility of the rapist, not the victim.

Myth:  No person is ever forced to have sex against her/his will.

Reality:  People often react from fear base.  The fear of death or injury is often enough to make someone submit.

Myth:  There is no way to protect oneself against sexual assault.

Reality:  There are ways to reduce the risk of assault by being aware, minimizing the use of alcohol (80% alcohol is involved), take a self-defense course, going out in groups.

Myth:  There is a high incidence of false rape reporting because women report rape to get back at men.

Reality:  The incidence of false reporting of rape is only 2%, the same as other major violent crimes, according to the FBI.