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Sexual Assault Is

Myths and Facts

Myth: Only certain “types” of women are raped.

Fact: No woman is safe from a rape attempt. Any woman of any age, race, class religion, occupation, physical disability, sexual identity, or appearance can be raped; rape is a very "democratic" form of violence. Four-month old infants and women in their 90's, women heavily dressed for arctic chill or lightly dressed for summer, have been sexually assaulted. Recent studies indicate one in four women will be sexually assaulted in this country. Current statistics also indicate one in four college women will be sexually assaulted before she graduates.

Myth: Most rapes are unplanned, spontaneous acts.

Fact: Most rapes (approx. 80%) are wholly or partially planned, (reference M. Amir). About 50% occur in either the victim's or assailant's home. Assailants often "stake out" areas they visit regularly, such as grocery store parking lots, offices, libraries, jogging trails, and laundry rooms. In other words, wherever women are in the world, they are vulnerable. As more survivors speak out about their assaults, we are also learning that 60-80% of all sexual assaults are committed by men known to them. This can range from someone known to them only by sight to individuals with whom they are very close: a best friend, lover or husband. Most assaults of young women are known as "acquaintance rapes."

Myth: Most rapists do this because they can't have sex any other way.

Fact: Most rapists, according to recent studies, also have "normal" relationships with women. They are often in long-term relationships, may be married and have children.

Myth: Women who party hard, drink and do drugs are setting themselves up to be raped.

Fact: Nobody deliberately "sets up" herself to be raped. Because alcohol and drugs may affect judgment, feelings, perceptions, and lower inhibitions, women may be in a more vulnerable position when they drink. Wearing particular clothes, naiveté, poor judgment, shyness, even reckless behavior is not a crime: rape is.

Myth: If a woman just relaxes, it will all be over with soon. She might even find it isn't so bad after all.

Fact: No one asks a robbery victim to "relax and enjoy it." Rape is violence using sex as a weapon. Survivors of sexual violence feel very clearly that rape and consensual sex are worlds apart. Rape involves persistent pressure, taking advantage of a person's inability to say "no", calculated drugging with alcohol or other substances, and/or threats, sometimes against the woman's life, or her livelihood, or academic career, or even family members or friends. Many survivors recall being in fear for their lives, even if a weapon was not present.

Myth: Women lie about rape as an act of revenge or guilt.

Fact: A justice of the New York State Supreme Court has said, "False rape charges are not frequently made; only about 2% of all rape and related sex charges are determined to be false-the same as other felonies." FBI statistics support this as well. False claims of auto theft are reported more frequently than those of rape.

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