Myths and Facts of Sexual Assault

MYTH #1: The primary motive for rape is sexual.
FACT: The primary motives for rape are aggression and power. Rapists seek to dominate and degrade their victims, not fulfill sexual desires.

MYTH #2: Women are sexually assaulted because they “ask for it” in some way.
FACT: No one deserves to be assaulted. Blaming victims for their attire or behavior deflects the responsibility from the offender.

MYTH #3: A woman can nearly always prevent an assault by resisting.
FACT: Resistance can be risky; each situation is unique. Submitting does not imply consent, and survivors should trust their instincts.

MYTH #4: Many women falsely report rape for revenge or attention.
FACT: False reports are rare, at about 2-3%. The issue lies in the low reporting rates of actual assaults.

MYTH #5: Rapists are easily identifiable.
FACT: There is no specific profile for a rapist. Most assaults are committed by someone the victim knows.

MYTH #6: Most sexual assaults are interracial.
FACT: Most assaults occur between individuals of the same race. Racial stereotypes can distort public perceptions.

MYTH #7: When a woman says “no,” she might really mean “yes.”
FACT: “No” means no. Consent must be explicit; silence or ambiguity should not be interpreted as consent.

Information taken from: “Myths and Facts About Sexual Assault,” Sexual Offense Services of Ramsey County and “Myths and Facts Quiz,” Juneau Mahan Gary and Karen Calabria Briskin

Myths and Facts about Male Rape

MYTH #1: Only women can be raped.
FACT: Men can and do experience sexual assault every day.

MYTH #2: Men who rape other men are gay.
FACT: Rape is about power and control, not sexual preference. Many male rapists have no specific sexual orientation regarding their victims.

MYTH #3: Men who rape other men are psychotic.
FACT: Rape reflects societal norms of dominance rather than individual mental illness.

MYTH #4: Survivors of male rape must be gay.
FACT: male survivors can be straight or gay; studies show the majority identify as heterosexual.

MYTH #5: Rape doesn’t happen to “real men”.
FACT: Rape can happen to any man, regardless of size and strength. Victims can be overpowered or caught off guard.

MYTH #6: Male rape only occurs in prison.
FACT: While prison rape exists, male rape occurs frequently in society, often unreported.

MYTH #7: A man cannot have an erection if frightened.
FACT: Physiological responses can occur during trauma, regardless of the survivor’s feelings about the assault.

MYTH #8: Women don’t rape men.
FACT: Women can and do commit sexual assault against men; these incidents are serious violations.

MYTH #9: Being raped reflects poorly on a man’s masculinity.
FACT: Survivors are not at fault; addressing and combating these myths is crucial for recovery.

MYTH #10: Men cope better with trauma than women.
FACT: Many men struggle with recover and may avoid seeking help, prolonging their trauma.

MYTH #11: There is nothing a man can do to help another man who has been raped.
FACT: Support among men can significantly aid recovery; educating about male rape is vital for addressing survivors’ needs.

*Information was taken from Crime Victim’s Digest, April 1987