Myth: A person who has really been assaulted will be hysterical.
Fact: Survivors exhibit a spectrum of emotional responses to assault: calm, hysteria, laughter, anger, apathy, shock. Each survivor copes with the trauma of the assault in a different way.
Myth: Many people claim that they have been sexually assaulted because they want revenge upon the person they accuse.
Fact: The FBI has found that only 2-8% of sexual assault cases are based on false accusation. This percentage of unsubstantiated cases is the same as with many other reported crimes. Often time cases that end before the full process has taken place are categorized inaccurately.
Myth: Persons who dress or acts in a "sexy" way are asking to be sexually assaulted.
Fact: Nothing a person does or does not do causes a brutal crime like sexual assault. No one deserves to be sexually assaulted. Many convicted sexual assailants are unable to remember what their victims looked like or were wearing. Blaming a victim’s clothing is the same as blaming the victim, who is never at fault.
Myth: Women who drink too much are asking to be taken advantage of.
Fact: The consequences of drinking too much may be a hangover the next day, for example, but never include being sexually assaulted. The assailant is always responsible for the assault, even if he was drinking.
Source: Rape Victim Advocates (2008)
Myth: Most rapes are committed by strangers.
Fact: 2/3 of rapes are committed by someone known to the victim.
Source: Rape, Abuse & Incest, National Network (RAINN)
