Rethinking Sexual Assault
| Misconceptions | Reality | Productive Thinking |
|---|---|---|
| Rape happens to only certain types of women. | Any woman of any age, race, class, religion, occupation, physical ability, sexual identity, or appearance can be raped; rape is a very "democratic" form of violence. Four-month old infants and women in their 90's, women dressed for arctic chill and in bikinis have been sexually assaulted. Recent studies indicate one in five women will be sexually assaulted in this country, including one in four college women.(1) | I understand that just because I am of a certain race, class, gender, ethnic or religious group, I have no special protections against sexual assault. Rape can happen to me and people I know. |
| Most assaults occur as spontaneous acts in dark alleys. | Approximately 80% of rapes are wholly or partially planned (Amir). About 50% occur in either the victim's or assailant's home. Others occur in areas which an assailant has staked out on a regular basis, such as grocery store parking lots, offices, libraries, jogging trails, laundry rooms--in other words, wherever women are in the world. As more survivors speak out about their assaults, we are also learning that close to 80% of all sexual assaults are committed by acquaintances. This can range from someone known to them only by sight to individuals with whom they are very close: a best friend, a lover, or husband. Even adolescent or adult male survivors are primarily assaulted by acquaintances--usually other men, but sometimes women as well. | While it is important to be aware of my surroundings at night, assaults can occur during daylight hours in "safe" places. It is important that I pay attention to my instincts about the behavior of people I do and don't know. Also, if a friend is behaving in a way that offends or bothers me, I am within my rights to confront him/her and even walk away if necessary. |
| Most assailants do this because they are desparate for sex. | Most perpetrators, according to recent studies, have "normal" relationships with women, are often in long-term relationships, married and have children--regardless of the gender of their victims. What we are now learning is that most assailants were themselves victimized as children. | By understanding that rapists live "normal" lives, I will not assume that a person is innocent of assault based on appearances. |
| Most sexual assaults are interracial. | The overwhelming majority--90%--of sexual assaults involve people of the same race. Because most assaults are between acquaintances, these tend not to be reported; the "system" responds more readily to victims of stranger rape, which most interracial rapes are. This FBI and other Justice Department statistics are seriously inaccurate in this area. In addition, media reports tend to play up the race of accused criminals, further encouraging racist misconceptions in our society. | I cannot assume that a person is potentially dangerous or trustworthy based solely on his/her race or appearance. Instead, I need to judge potential hazards based on a person's behavior, and trust my instincts in all cases. |
| Women who party hard, drink and do drugs are asking to be raped. | Most rapes are planned. Yet, most acquaintance rapists--even those who are now serving time in jail--do not admit that forcing women to have sex against their will or when they're unable to consent, is rape. One campus women's liaison at a major university was told by members of a fraternity that they assume that women who immediately approach the bar upon arrival are there for sex, regardless of the possibility that some women may feel insecure or shy. Naivete, poor judgment, shyness, even reckless behavior is not a crime. Rape is. Sexual assault is the only crime where the relationship between the parties is deemed relevant and the victim's prior behavior is considered provocation. This is not the case in grand theft (even if you left a Rolls Royce in a poverty-stricken area of town) or assault and battery (unless, again, a woman is battered by her mate.) |
I have choices One avoidance strategy, and way to enhance my ability to resist sexual assault is to be in control of my judgment and faculties at all times. If I choose to drink or do drugs, I will plan ahead so that a trusted friend can keep an eye on me at parties, or know when I plan to return from a date. |
| Women give mixed messages because they don't want to admit that they really want to have sex. They just need to be convinced, to relax and enjoy themselves. | No one asks a robbery victim to "relax and enjoy it." Rape is violence using sex as a weapon. Survivors of sexual violence feel very clearly that rape and consensual sex are worlds apart. Rape involves persistent pressure, taking advantage of a person's inability to say "no", calculated drugging with alcohol or other substances. It can even involve threats, sometimes against the women's life, or her livelihood, or academic career, or even family members or friends. Many survivors recall being in fear of their lives, even if a weapon was not present. Rape often involves more than "simple" sexual intercourse: assault with foreign objects, sodomy, fellatio, cunnilungus, "train" or gang rape, physical and verbal abuse and forced "slave" behavior (cooking meals, etc.) In Los Angeles, rape hotline calls revealed the average length of a rape was 3.5 hours. | Rape is a crime for which the perpetrator has responsibility. By understanding that rape is rape, regardless of the relationship between the parties, and regardless of the behavior of the survivor, the focus will stay on the perpetrator's behavior, not the victim's. Also, if I am assaulted, this knowledge will help me avoid self-blame and self-enforced shame, as well as empower me to seek help or report this crime. |
| A rapist is easy to spot in a crowd. | There is nothing about rapists' appearances which distinguishes them from other men. Rapists come from all races, ethnic or socioeconomic groups. They can be large, small, able-bodied, or disabled, married or single. What we do know is that rapists almost always identify as heterosexual, even if their victims are male, and they rarely go to jail the first time; in fact, studies of adolescent offenders indicate that most begin commiting sexual assaults when they are very young. |
I will elarn as much as I can to avoid or escape an assault, such as assertiveness and self-defense skills, because there are no formulas for preventing an assault. Although I must rely on my own wits and skills, it's not my fault if I am assaulted. |
| Men can't be sexually assaulted. | Somewhere between one in six and one in ten males are sexually assaulted--mostly by heterosexual men. Another misconception is that male victims must be gay. Most males are assaulted as children. Young heterosexual men have reported being coerced or forced into have intercourse with women. It's not unusual for gay men to be assaulted on dates. Also, hate violence against gays is on the rise. Like assaults against women, this is a crime of power and violence. |
Just because I am a male doesn't mean that I cannot be sexually assaulted. I can also help male survivors, as with female, by talking about the issue in an inclusive way, avoiding the presumption that all survivors are female, and assuming that all male victims are gay. |
| Women lie about rape as an act of revenge or guilt. | A judge of the New York State Supreme Court has said, "False rape charges are not frequently made; only about 2% of all rape and related sex charges are determined to be false--the same as other felonies." FBI statistics support this as well. False claims of auto theft are reported more frequently than those of rape. |
By educating others about this misconception, I will be helping create a safer climate that allows survivors' voices to be heard. |
| Self-defense just isn't ladylike. | It may not be ladylike, but it is womanlike. Passive behavior only became a measure of how women should behave in the last few centuries. As anthropologists and historians rediscover more and more about women's history, they find that women have actively resisted male violence since long before the invention of patriarchy. |
As a woman, I understand that I am not giving up my femaleness just because I am strong, assertive, and can defend myself and my rights. |
| Fighting back incites a rapist to violence. | Only about 5% of all rapists fall into the "psychopathic" category; the rest have other motivations of power or anger. Most pick out potential victims they believe may be good targets without a fight. They actually may even test these women nonverbally or verbally before determining whether or not to attack. Two recent studies of rape avoidance behavior has shown that the more options a woman knows, the more psychologically ready she is to resist. Both verbal and physical resistance may actually lessen the severity of injury in some instances. What is most important to remember is that no one can tell another person what is right or wrong in a dangerous situation. Only s/he knows her/his own abilities, can assess the assailant's behavior, and can determine what the possibilities are. Knowing their options may prevent feeling paralyzed by fear, and may also help the survivor understand that submission is also a viable a form of self-protection. |
I understand that the only person who can determine the strategy to use in any given situation is the person in it. Learning strategies to reduce my risk of assault, and the options I may have if assaulted, will help me feel strong and self-reliant. Even if I never need to use what I learn, I will be a better, more self-assured person for knowing this.
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If you have any questions that you would like to clarify, please feel free to email your questions to the SAEO staff at saeo@virginia.edu.
1) M. Koss, 1986. Ms. Magazine Survey on Campus Rape.