Sexual Assault Program -- Myths and Facts
Myth:
Not saying "no" means saying "yes."
"She didn't say no. She didn't fight or run. She was tense, but I didn't rape her."
Fact:
If a person feels that they can't say no, it's still sexual violence. No one has the right to force, pressure, manipulate, or threaten you into sexual contact or to have sexual contact with you without your consent. This includes the use of predatory drugs.
Using force, coercion, pressure, or predatory drugs constitutes sexual violence.
Myth:
Most victims are sexually assaulted by strangers.
Fact:
Over 2/3 of all sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows. Almost 97% of Vermont's sexual violence victims knew the perpetrator before the incident. In 2004, in only 1% of reported sexual assaults the victim did not know the assailant. In 25% of these cases, the assailant was either a family member or an intimate partner of the victim.
Most rape, abuse and incest happens in bedrooms, churches, schools, cars, offices, dorms...not in dark alleys or behind bushes.
Myth:
Sexual violence isn't a "guy" issue.
Fact:
Sexual violence affects men and boys: 1 in 6 men have been victims of sexual violence at some time in their lives. Also, many perpetrators are men. And most men know victims of sexual violence.
Myth:
Victims of unwanted sex are usually sluts or low-class. Most rapes happen in bad neighborhoods or in big cities.
Fact:
Survivors of sexual violence are people of all ages, races, ethnicities, economic classes, religions and sexual orientations. They are people who live in cities and towns, on farms, and in the suburbs.
Myth:
Because the crime rate is going down in Vermont, the rate of sexual assault is also going down.
Fact:
In spite of the decrease in the crime rate in Vermont, reported sexual assaults in 2004 increased 20% over the past five-year average.
Need an advocate, support, information, help?
Call this 24/7 hotline to speak anonymously to a real person: 1-800-489-7273
