1. Rape

2. Rape – myth & reality According to Diana Russell's 1978 survey of 930 randomly selected adult female residents of San Francisco, approximately 44% of women are victimized by rape or attempted rape at some time in their lives. The survey found that the real rape rate has increased approximately three-fold between 1931 and 1976 for women in all age groups except the two youngest groups.

3. Rape – myth & reality Of the percentage of women surveyed who reported a rape or attempted rape experience, 50% reported more than one assault or attempted assault experience. Russel's findings show that, at most, only 30% of stranger rapes and 1% of date rapes are ever reported to the police. Some estimates indicate that every six minutes of every day someone is sexually assaulted in the U.S. Myths abound about sexual assault.

4. Rape – myth & reality MYTH: Sexual assault is a crime of passion and lust. FACT: Sexual assault is a crime of violence. Assailants seek to dominate, humiliate and punish their victims. MYTH: Sexual assault is a crime of passion and lust. FACT: Sexual assault is a crime of violence. Assailants seek to dominate, humiliate and punish their victims.

5. Rape – myth & reality MYTH: You cannot be assaulted against your will. FACT: Assailants overpower their victims with the threat of violence or with actual violence. Especially in cases of acquaintance rape or incest, an assailant often uses the victim's trust in him to isolate her. MYTH: You cannot be assaulted against your will. FACT: Assailants overpower their victims with the threat of violence or with actual violence. Especially in cases of acquaintance rape or incest, an assailant often uses the victim's trust in him to isolate her.

6. Rape – myth & reality MYTH: It is impossible for a husband to sexually assault his wife. FACT: Regardless of marital or social relationship, if a woman does not consent to sexual activity, she is being sexually assaulted. In fact, 14% of women are victims of rape committed by their husband. MYTH: It is impossible for a husband to sexually assault his wife. FACT: Regardless of marital or social relationship, if a woman does not consent to sexual activity, she is being sexually assaulted. In fact, 14% of women are victims of rape committed by their husband.

7. Rape – myth & reality MYTH: A person who has really been assaulted will be hysterical. FACT: Survivors exhibit a spectrum ofemotional responses to assault: calm, hysteria, laughter, anger, apathy, shock. Each survivor copes with the trauma of the assault in a different way. MYTH: A person who has really been assaulted will be hysterical. FACT: Survivors exhibit a spectrum ofemotional responses to assault: calm, hysteria, laughter, anger, apathy, shock. Each survivor copes with the trauma of the assault in a different way.

8. Rape – myth & reality MYTH: Sexual assault is an impulsive act. FACT: Seventy-five percent of all assaults are planned in advance. When three or more assailants are involved, 90% are planned. If two assailants are involved, 83% are planned. With one assailant, 58% are planned. MYTH: Sexual assault is an impulsive act. FACT: Seventy-five percent of all assaults are planned in advance. When three or more assailants are involved, 90% are planned. If two assailants are involved, 83% are planned. With one assailant, 58% are planned.

9. Rape – myth & reality MYTH: Assailants are usually crazed psychopaths who do not know their victims. FACT: As many as 80% of all assaults involve acquaintances. An assailant might be someone you know intimately. He may be a co-worker, a friend or a family member. Very few rapists actually have mental problems. MYTH: Assailants are usually crazed psychopaths who do not know their victims. FACT: As many as 80% of all assaults involve acquaintances. An assailant might be someone you know intimately. He may be a co-worker, a friend or a family member. Very few rapists actually have mental problems.

10. Rape – myth & reality MYTH: In most cases, black men attack white women (U.S.). FACT: In most sexual assault cases, the assailant and his victim are of the same racial background. MYTH: In most cases, black men attack white women (U.S.). FACT: In most sexual assault cases, the assailant and his victim are of the same racial background.

11. Rape – myth & reality MYTH: Rape is a crime committed by strangers jumping out of bushes or in dark alleys. REALITY: The reality is that more than 80% of rapes committed by people who knew the victim and are often committed in either the house of the perpetrator or victim. MYTH: Rape is a crime committed by strangers jumping out of bushes or in dark alleys. REALITY: The reality is that more than 80% of rapes committed by people who knew the victim and are often committed in either the house of the perpetrator or victim.

12. Rape – myth & reality MYTH: All women secretly want to be raped. FACT: Women, like all human beings, want a life of dignity and safety. Sexual assault robs a person of dignity and a sense of personal safety. No one wants the physical and emotional pain caused by sexual assault. MYTH: All women secretly want to be raped. FACT: Women, like all human beings, want a life of dignity and safety. Sexual assault robs a person of dignity and a sense of personal safety. No one wants the physical and emotional pain caused by sexual assault.

13. Rape – myth & reality MYTH: Only young, pretty women are assaulted. FACT: Survivors range in age from infancy to old age, and their appearance is seldom a consideration. Assailants often choose victims who seem most vulnerable to attack: old persons, children physically or emotionally disabled persons, substance abusers, and street persons. MYTH: Only young, pretty women are assaulted. FACT: Survivors range in age from infancy to old age, and their appearance is seldom a consideration. Assailants often choose victims who seem most vulnerable to attack: old persons, children physically or emotionally disabled persons, substance abusers, and street persons.

14. MYTH: It is impossible to sexually assault a man. FACT: Men fall victim for the same reasons as women: they are overwhelmed by threats or acts of physical and emotional violence. Also, most sexual assaults that involve a male victim are gang assaults (U.S.). MYTH: It is impossible to sexually assault a man. FACT: Men fall victim for the same reasons as women: they are overwhelmed by threats or acts of physical and emotional violence. Also, most sexual assaults that involve a male victim are gang assaults (U.S.). Rape – myth & reality

15. MYTH: Victims of rape often ask to be raped by the way they were acting or the way that they dressed. REALITY: Nobody asks to be raped no matter how they are dressed or how they were acting. The way an individual is never justification for an individual being sexually assaulted. Many convicted sexual assailants are unable to remember what their victims looked like or were wearing. MYTH: Victims of rape often ask to be raped by the way they were acting or the way that they dressed. REALITY: Nobody asks to be raped no matter how they are dressed or how they were acting. The way an individual is never justification for an individual being sexually assaulted. Many convicted sexual assailants are unable to remember what their victims looked like or were wearing. Rape – myth & reality

16. MYTH: The only way a rapist can really force a woman to have intercourse is by using a weapon. REALITY: A weapon is not necessary for a sexual assault to occur. Fists, body weight, psychological pressure or the victim being drunk are all ways in which rape can occur without the use of a weapon. MYTH: The only way a rapist can really force a woman to have intercourse is by using a weapon. REALITY: A weapon is not necessary for a sexual assault to occur. Fists, body weight, psychological pressure or the victim being drunk are all ways in which rape can occur without the use of a weapon. Rape – myth & reality

17. MYTH: If a victim isn't a virgin then they can't be raped. REALITY: A victim's sexual history has nothing to do with a case of rape. A victim could even have had sex with their attacker at an earlier time and can still be raped by them. MYTH: If a victim isn't a virgin then they can't be raped. REALITY: A victim's sexual history has nothing to do with a case of rape. A victim could even have had sex with their attacker at an earlier time and can still be raped by them. Rape – myth & reality

18. MYTH: Women who don't actually physically fight back have not been raped. REALITY: A woman may not fight back for any number of reasons, she may feel it is not safe for her to do so, but this does not mean that if she doesn't fight back it does not mean that the victim is consenting, and rape has still occurred. MYTH: Women who don't actually physically fight back have not been raped. REALITY: A woman may not fight back for any number of reasons, she may feel it is not safe for her to do so, but this does not mean that if she doesn't fight back it does not mean that the victim is consenting, and rape has still occurred. Rape – myth & reality

19. MYTH: If a man pays for dinner or a movie, the woman owes him sex so rape has not occurred. REALITY: A woman doesn't have to do anything in return for a date, especially having sex against her will. MYTH: If a man pays for dinner or a movie, the woman owes him sex so rape has not occurred. REALITY: A woman doesn't have to do anything in return for a date, especially having sex against her will. Rape – myth & reality

20. MYTH: When a man becomes sexually aroused they have to have sex or they will literally "explode." REALITY: Just because a man has an erection it doesn't mean that he has to put it somewhere. Although it may be desirable there are no physical consequences if a man doesn't have sex when he is aroused. MYTH: When a man becomes sexually aroused they have to have sex or they will literally "explode." REALITY: Just because a man has an erection it doesn't mean that he has to put it somewhere. Although it may be desirable there are no physical consequences if a man doesn't have sex when he is aroused. Rape – myth & reality

21. MYTH: Women often lie about being raped to get revenge, for there own benefit or because they changed their mind afterwards. REALITY: Only 2% (4%) of reported rapes are false accusations. Most women will not lie about being raped for any reason. MYTH: Women often lie about being raped to get revenge, for there own benefit or because they changed their mind afterwards. REALITY: Only 2% (4%) of reported rapes are false accusations. Most women will not lie about being raped for any reason. Rape – myth & reality

22. MYTH: When a woman says "no", she really means "maybe". REALITY: Although mixed messages can be given, when a woman says no she means no. Never assume that no means anything else but no and if in doubt, ask. MYTH: When a woman says "no", she really means "maybe". REALITY: Although mixed messages can be given, when a woman says no she means no. Never assume that no means anything else but no and if in doubt, ask. Rape – myth & reality

23. MYTH: If a woman goes to a man's room and "makes out" with him it means that she wants to have sex. REALITY: Just because a woman goes to a man's room or makes out with him it does not mean that she wants to have sex with him. People can want to "fool around", without wanting to actually have intercourse. MYTH: If a woman goes to a man's room and "makes out" with him it means that she wants to have sex. REALITY: Just because a woman goes to a man's room or makes out with him it does not mean that she wants to have sex with him. People can want to "fool around", without wanting to actually have intercourse. Rape – myth & reality

24. MYTH: If a woman has passed out because of excessive alcohol it is okay to have sex with her. REALITY: If someone is unconscious they are unable to give you consent and therefore having sex with them would be rape. MYTH: If a woman has passed out because of excessive alcohol it is okay to have sex with her. REALITY: If someone is unconscious they are unable to give you consent and therefore having sex with them would be rape. Rape – myth & reality

25. MYTH: If the attacker is drunk at the time of the assault then they cannot be accused of rape. REALITY: The attacker is responsible for their actions no matter how intoxicated they are. Being drunk is not an excuse to force sex on someone against their will. MYTH: If the attacker is drunk at the time of the assault then they cannot be accused of rape. REALITY: The attacker is responsible for their actions no matter how intoxicated they are. Being drunk is not an excuse to force sex on someone against their will. Rape – myth & reality

26. MYTH: As long as children remember to stay away from strangers, they are in no danger of being assaulted. FACT: Sadly, children are usually assaulted by acquaintances; a family member or other caretaking adult. Children are usually coerced into sexual activity by their assailant, and are manipulated into silence by the assailants threats and/or promises, as well as their own feelings of guilt. MYTH: As long as children remember to stay away from strangers, they are in no danger of being assaulted. FACT: Sadly, children are usually assaulted by acquaintances; a family member or other caretaking adult. Children are usually coerced into sexual activity by their assailant, and are manipulated into silence by the assailants threats and/or promises, as well as their own feelings of guilt.