Myth or Reality?
Rape and all forms of sexual violence are still taboo subjects that arent often spoken about and the reluctance to acknowledge any of this results in misinformations and myths being formed.
Survivors often struggle with many feelings of shame, guilt and self-blame and so find it difficult to open up to people about their experiences.
At Rape Crisis (W, C & SB) we are committed to supporting our women to feel safe, secure, believed and to help them to gain the confidence they need to speak out, so we aim to dispel all myths and raise awareness and understanding of sexual violence everywhere.
Myth: "Women are most
likely to be raped outside,
after dark and by a stranger,
so shouldnt go out alone
at night"
Myth: "Only young,
attractive women and
girls, who are flirtatious
and wear tight clothes are
raped."
Myth: "If two people have
had sex with each other
before, it's always ok to
have sex again"
Myth:"When it comes
to sex, women and
girls sometimes play '
'hard to get' and say
'no' when they really
mean 'yes'...."
Actually, only 10% of rapes are
committed by strangers. Around
90% of rapes are committed by
people known to survivors.
People can be raped anywhere
and perpertrators can be
anybody! Risk of rape shouldnt
be used as an excuse to control
women's movements, rights
and freedom.
Rape is an act of violence
and control and has very
little to do with someone's
appearance or what they
are wearing! There is no
excuse for sexual violence
and what someone was
wearing at the time is
totally irrelevant!
Consent must be given
EVERYTIME two people
engage in sexual contact,
even if they are in a
relationship.
Partners can commit rape
& sexual assault.
Everybody has the right to say
'NO' to sex and change their
mind at any point of sexual
contact; if the other person
then doesn't stop then they are committing sexual assault or
rape. If someone says no.......
they mean no!
Myth: "Once a man is
sexually aroused, he
can't help himself.
He needs to have sex"
The vast majority of those
who are sexually abused
as children will never
perpetrate sexual violence
against others. There is no
excuse for any form of
sexual violence against
anyone!
Myth: "Alcohol, drugs,
stress and depression
can turn people into
rapists"
Myth:"Somebody who
has drank lots of alcohol
or taken drugs shouldn't
complain about being
raped."
Myth:"It is only rape
if someone is
physically forced into
sex and have the
injuries to show for it."
Myth: "Men of certain
races and backgrounds
are more likely to commit
sexual violence."
In law, consent must be fully and
freely given by someone with the
capacity to do so. If a person is
unconscious or incapacitated
through alcohol or drugs then they
are unable to give their consent
to sex. Having sex with someone in
this situation is therefore classed as
rape!100% of the responsibility lies
with the perpetrator!
Sometimes people sustain
injuries from being raped and
sometimes they don't. Many
people who are sexually
attacked are unable to move
or speak from fear or shock.
Just because somebody
doesn't have visible injuries
doesn't mean that they weren't
raped!
There is no typical rapist.
People who commit sexual
violence come from all
economic, ethnic, racial,
age and social groups.
Nothing is ever the
cause of rape except
for the perpetrator.
There are
"no excuses"
Myth: "Once a man is
sexually aroused, he
can't help himself.
He needs to have sex"
Men can quite easily
control their urges! They
do not need to rape
someone to satisfy them.
Rape is an act of violence
and control, not
sexual gratification.
Myth: "People often lie
about being raped because
they regret having sex with
someone or they do it out of
spite or for attention."
Unbalanced media focus on
false rape allegations perpetuates
the public perception that lying about sexual violence is common.
That is untrue! False allegations
of rape are very rare and a vast
majority of survivors choose not to
report it to the police because
they fear that they won't be
believed.
Myth: "People who were
sexually abused as
children are likely to
become abusers
themselves."
Myth: "Men don't get
raped and women
dont commit sexual offences"
The vast majority of those
who are sexually abused
as children will never
perpetrate sexual violence
against others. There is no
excuse for any form of
sexual violence against
anyone!
The majority of sexual assaults and
rapes are committed by men against
women and children but there is a small
number of women who do commit sexual
violence. Often people that have been
abused by a woman are particularly
fearful that they won't be believed or their
experiences won't be as bad as being
raped by a man. Every experience is just
as difficult to deal with and each person
and their experience is just as
important as everyone else!