Health Promotion & Wellness Services
726 Broadway - Suite 344
212-998-1234
health.promotion@nyu.edu
Information obtained from the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence handbook
Myth: Sexual assault isn't a big deal. It's just sex.
Sexual assault is a violent crime wherein sex is used as a weapon. It humiliates, terrifies and degrades its victims. This myth leads to the belief that rape doesn't hurt any more than sex may hurt, and therefore a person enjoys being sexually assaulted.
Myth: Women provoke sexual assault.
Because sexual assault is portrayed as being motivated by lust and sex, the victim is often believed to have enticed the perpetrator. This myth is destructive because it leads to the idea that the victim is to blame. It is important to remember that no one asks to be sexually assaulted; the victim is NOT to blame.
Myth: Sexual assault only happens to women.
Sexual assault affects us all, regardless of gender. 10% of all adult rape victims are male.
Myth: Only strangers commit real sexual assaults.
The common portrayal of a perpetrator is that of a stranger. Although this may by true in some cases, the majority of those who are perpetrators are known to the victim. They are classmates, friends, partners or ex-partners, acquaintances or family members.
Myth: Men of color are more likely to rape.
Most rape is intra-racial. At least 78% of all cases involve people of the same race. Some groups are more represented in statistical data in part because information is more likely to be gathered on people of color and other groups who face social discrimination.
Myth: Women cry rape because they had sex and changed their minds.
There is a difference between regretted sex and sexual assault. In a regretted sexual encounter, a person has consented to the encounter, but is not feeling comfortable about the experience. This does not justify making an assault claim. When a person is sexually assaulted, that means that they did not consent to the sexual encounter. Sexual assault is not a regret, it is a crime.
Myth: People claim they were sexually assaulted because they are looking for attention.
The FBI reports that only 2% of all reported sexual assaults are false accusations- this is no different than any other crime. The reality is that people don't claim that they were sexually assaulted as an attempt to gain attention. Sexual assault is a traumatic experience that can be life changing.