MYTH Rape is provoked by the victim. Women who are raped are asking for it.
FACT A study conducted in Philadelphia by Dr. Menachem Amir (Patterns in Forcible Rape) indicated that 60-70% rapes are at least partially planned beforehand by the rapists. The study also shows that the victim is usually threatened with death or bodily harm if she resists. Why should a women go out of her way to be humiliated, beaten, or possibly killed? The problem with this myth is the way it takes away the criminal blame from the rapist and shifts the responsibility for the crime to the victim.
Although provocation may consist of only a "gesture," according to the Federal Commission on Crimes of Violence only 4% of reported sexual assaults involved precipitative behavior on the part of the victim, and most of this provocation consisted of nothing more than walking or dressing in a way that is socially defined as attractive. No woman's behavior or dress gives a man the right to rape her.
MYTH Only young, beautiful women in seductive clothing are raped. It can't happen to me. Only other types of women get raped. Only "bad" girls get raped.
FACT The victim of sexual assault is a victim of violence. Rapists choose their victim without regard to physical appearance. Victims are of every age, shape, race, and social class. The reported age range is six months to 90 years of age. Nearly one-half of rapes are committed in the victims' homes.
MYTH Sexual assault occurs only among strangers. If I avoid strangers, I will not be raped.
FACT Although 51% of the rapes studied by Amir did occur among total strangers, 49% involved cases in which the victim and offender knew each other in some way. In 14% of the cases the rapist was a close friend, a relative, or a friend of the family. The National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence reported that 53% of victims were total strangers to their attackers, 30% were slightly acquainted, 7% had a family relationship, and 3% were not related but had a previous close association. When considering these statistics, it is important to remember that they deal with REPORTED cases of forcible rape; a woman is more apt to report being raped by a stranger than by a friend or relative.
