Fact: The myth is that the victim somehow enticed the rapist by wearing provocative clothing or dancing seductively or just being out late at night. The blame for the assault is placed on the victim. However age, attractiveness, size, ethnicity, and morals of a victim do not seem to be a factor with him or her being singled out for the crime. Studies report that only 4% of reported sexual assaults involve provocative behavior on the part of the victim

Myth: Most sexual assault are committed by strangers.

Fact: 60% to 80% of all sexual assaults are committed by someone the victims knows (i.e., a relative, friend, neighbor, or acquaintance. 85% of reported child sexual assaults are by someone known and trusted by the child. The attacks occur most frequently in the victim’s home or in the car.

Myth: the primary motive for sexual assault is sex.

Fact: Studies show that the motive for the sexual assault is aggression, not sex and that most rapist have consenting sexual partners. Sexual assaults is a crime of violence, committed by a person who uses sex as a weapon.

Myth: A husband cannot sexually assault his wife.

Fact: If a spouse forces his or her mate to have sex, then it is a sexual assault and it is a crime. Studies show that 1 out of 7 women are sexually assaulted by their husbands. A person convicted of Spousal Sexual Battery can be sentenced up to 10 years.

Myth: Only women are sexually assaulted.

Fact: While women do compose the majority of sexual assault survivors, men are also victims of sexual assaults. Studies report that 98% of all sexual assaults are committed by men. Therefore, when men are sexually assaulted it is usually by another male.

Myth: A rapist is easy to spot in a crowd.

Fact: a rapist could be your neighbor, relative, boyfriend, cable man, husband or stranger. The fact is they can be of any race, color or socio-economic class.

Myth: Sexual Assault could never happen to me.

Fact: This is False. Your mother, daughter, girlfriend, neighbor, sister or co-worker and you could become a sexual assault victim. All women are potential sexual assault victims, regardless of age, race, religion, occupation, education, or physical description. Studies report that 1 out of every 3 women will be a victim of some type of sexual assault during her lifetime.

Myth: If a victim doesn’t scream or fight, it is not a sexual assault.

Fact: the rapist’s primary weapon is fear. Through threats of bodily injury or death, the woman is terrorized into cooperation or immobilized by fear. A victim does not have to have bruises, cuts or any other physical injury to prove that she has been sexually assaulted. Submission is not consent; it is against her will.

Myth: Women “cry rape” to get back at men.

Fact: Less than 5% of reported sexual assaults are false accusations.