April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the For All Seasons Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center Staff want to shed light on this crucial issue and help our community separate myths from facts. The agency’s team members volunteered to be the face of sexual assault awareness. Here are 6 common myths and facts that everyone should learn. Understanding more about sexual assault, abuse, rape and trauma can help us all play a role in prevention and healing.
Myth: Rape does not happen that often.
Fact: There is an average of 293,066 victims ages 12 or older of rape and sexual assault each year in the U.S. This means 1 sexual assault occurs every 107 seconds. We must recognize the prevalence and depth of this issue as rape and sexual violence is happening in our neighborhoods, schools, and communities. As a community, we need to be vigilant to any signs that indicate someone could be getting assaulted and connect victims to resources.
Myth: Most sexual assaults are committed by strangers.
Fact: Most (8 out of 10) sexual assaults and rapes are committed by someone the victim knows. It does not matter whether there is a current or past relationship between the victim and offender; unwanted sexual activity is sexual assault and is a very serious crime.
Myth: If a victim of sexual assault does not fight back, they must have thought the assault was not that bad, or they wanted it.
Fact: Many survivors experience tonic immobility or a “freeze response” during an assault where they physically cannot move or speak. Just because someone did not fight back does not mean it was consensual. Many sexual assault survivors experience this “freeze response” during an assault.
Myth: A lot of victims lie about being raped or give false reports.
Fact: Only 2 to 8% of rapes are falsely reported, the same percentage as for other felonies. The prevalence of false reporting cases of sexual violence is low, yet when survivors come forward, many face scrutiny. Due to many factors and barriers before, during, and after the reporting process, the majority of sexual assaults, an estimated 63 percent, are never reported to the police.
Myth: Wearing revealing clothing, behaving provocatively, or drinking a lot means the victim was “asking for it.”
Fact: The perpetrator selects the victim. The victim’s alcohol consumption, or clothing choices do NOT mean that they are consenting to sexual activity. Every individual has the right to autonomy over their body and their choices to have sex.
Myth: If a parent teaches a child to stay away from strangers, they won’t be sexually assaulted or abused.
Fact: 60% of child sexual abuse cases are perpetrated by someone the child knows outside the family, and 30% are assaulted by family members. Stranger danger is important, however, we encourage having ongoing conversations with your child regularly surrounding consent, and inappropriate touch. Make sure they know you are a safe person to talk to and they did nothing wrong and will not be in trouble if they share a sexual experience with you.
If you or someone you love is a survivor of sexual assault, abuse, rape, or trauma, help is available. Reach out for support today.
For All Seasons Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center – for Mental Health and Sexual Assault Hotlines on the Mid-Shore of Maryland: English: 410.820.5600; Text 410.829.6143; Espanol 410.829.6143
Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault – for State Resources and Regional Rape Crisis Center.
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
Sources:
