| Myth: |
Most rapes are committed for sexual gratification. |
| Fact: |
Rape is not a sexually motivated crime. The rapist rapes out of anger or for a feeling of power and control. |
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| Myth: |
Rapes are most often committed by strangers. |
| Fact: |
The offender and the victim usually know each other. In over 80% of rapes the offender and the victim are known to each other. |
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| Myth: |
Only attractive young women get raped. |
| Fact: |
Rape victims range in age from infancy to the elderly. Victims can be of either sex and sexual orientation and come from all economic and racial groups. |
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| Myth: |
Rape is an impulsive act of sexual frustration. |
| Fact: |
Rape is an act of power and control. Sex is the weapon used to perpetrate the crime. A perpetrator has the ability and responsibility to stop the assault at any time. |
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| Myth: |
A person can provoke an assault. |
| Fact: |
Rape is NEVER the fault of the survivor. The majority of rapes are premeditated. Rapists use the survivor's behavior as an excuse for their actions. |
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| Myth: |
Men and women are very different in their emotional response to being raped. |
| Fact: |
Men and women respond quite similarly to being sexually assaulted. Individuals all respond in unique ways, however, both men and women experience many of the same emotions including guilt, anger, sadness and shame. |
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| Myth: |
During a rape, a person should always try to fight off or resist the attacker. |
| Fact: |
Many people are in shock during an assault and are unable to resist the assault. The goal is to survive the crime whatever way possible. |
