10 Misconceptions About Sexual Assault
Start writing a post
Swoon

10 Misconceptions About Sexual Assault

There are real people behind these statistics

280
10 Misconceptions About Sexual Assault
Lum3n.com

Sexual assault- a sexual act in which a person is coerced or physically forced to engage against their will or non-consensual sexual touching of a person.

According to RAINN ...

- every 98 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted

-1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime (14.8% completed, 2.8% attempted)

-About 3% of American men—or 1 in 33—have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.

-From 2009-2013, Child Protective Services agencies substantiated, or found strong evidence to indicate that, 63,000 children a year were victims of sexual abuse.

-A majority of child victims are 12-17. Of victims under the age of 18: 34% of victims of sexual assault and rape are under age 12, and 66% of victims of sexual assault and rape are age 12-17.

-The majority of these crimes were committed when the victim was sleeping, traveling/running errands, working or when attending school.

*Important Reminder... NO ONE "ASKS" FOR OR DESERVES TO BE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.

A lot of people tend to have several misconceptions about sexual assault, so here are 10Most misconceptions and followed by the truth.

1. Sexual assault happens because people need sex.

Truth- sexual assault is a form of sexualized violence. Sexual assault is about power and control, and perpetrators putting their desires over one's ability to consent.

2. Sexual assault happens because people drink too much. If people drink less, sexual assault rates would go down.

Truth-The consumption of alcohol does not cause sexual assault. Sexual assault is often an opportunistic crime, and perpetrators take the survivor’s incapacitation as an opportunity to commit violence.

3. If someone didn't want to be assaulted, they would have stopped it.

Truth- Instead of there just being a fight or flight response, it's fight, flight, or freeze. In extremely fearful situations, people can freeze. If a person freezes, it is not by choice. One's body can start blacking out from the amount of fear that one is experiencing.

4. Girls falsely accuse others of raping them only because they're embarrassed.

Truth- According to the University of Michigan, false accusations of sexual assault are extremely rare. Research demonstrates that rates of false reporting are consistent across violent crimes, including sexual assault.

5. Men can't be sexually assaulted.

Truth- Men are survivors of sexual assault that is committed by any gender. The University of Michigan did a survey back in 2015 that showed that 1.4% of male students experienced unwanted oral or anal penetration and that 6.8% of undergraduate males experienced some form of non-consensual touching and kissing or penetration.

6. Only men commit sexual assault.

Truth- What this misconception stems from is the belief that men commit sexual assault because of their hormones. People tend to blame biology for rape, when in fact, it's due to behavior and culture. Two things that society can easily change.

7. Most victims do not know their rapist.

Truth- most sexual assaults are committed by people the person knows. The University of Michigan conducted a survey that found 56% of students who had an unwanted sexual experience said another U-M student was responsible. Only 5.5% of students reported no prior relationship or did not know the perpetrator.

8. If someone was actually sexually assaulted, they would have reported it.

Truth- most people blame themselves and often feel embarrassed and ashamed. A lot of people refuse to report the crime out of fear that they will be blamed.

9. Women asked to be raped by the way they dress.

Truth- no one asks to be raped. Let's repeat that for the people in the back, NO ONE ASKS TO BE RAPED. Rapes happen because others feel entitled to other peoples bodies and disregard other's right to consent.

10. If someone becomes physically aroused and/or orgasms when they are assaulted, then it is not assault.

Truth- Just because the survivor reached orgasm does not mean that they enjoyed being assaulted or that they wanted it. An orgasm is a biological reaction that cannot be controlled. Just because the survivor reached orgasm, does not mean it was consensual. Perpetrators often use this as a way to conceive both themselves and the survivor that the experience was consensual.

If you have been sexually assaulted, you are not alone. Listed below will be a few resources where you can seek help:

National Sexual Assault Hotline

Call 1-800-656-4673

Available 24 hours every day.

The A Voice For The Innocent is a website where other survivors share their stories and a safe place where their voices will be heard.

Title IX For Survivors is a website dedicated to helping survivors find organizations and hotline near them.

Report this Content
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

48192
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

30598
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

954526
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

175092
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments