It might be shocking to some, but many people still think sexual assault is strictly rape. They think that things like groping someone in a crowded subway isn’t sexual assault. They think that men can’t be sexually assaulted, especially not by a woman. And they think that rapists go straight to jail. Well, if you’re one of these people, you should know that those myths are simply not true. Consent is consent, and sexual assault is so much more than just a creepy stranger jumping out of a bush and violating you. Here, we take a look at some common beliefs about sexual assault that are totally wrong.
Do you have any other false beliefs about sexual assault you’d like to debunk? Tell us in the comments! 
Belief: “Sexual assault is only when you’re raped.”
Truth: Sexual assault can be any sort of sexual contact that occurs without proper consent. For instance, going down on a someone when they’re too drunk to make a clear decision about wanting to, as well as cuffing a girl’s breast or someone’s behind in a crowded subway train are just as much considered sexual assault as rape is.
Truth: Sexual assault can be any sort of sexual contact that occurs without proper consent. For instance, going down on a someone when they’re too drunk to make a clear decision about wanting to, as well as cuffing a girl’s breast or someone’s behind in a crowded subway train are just as much considered sexual assault as rape is.
Belief: “Sexual assault is usually committed by a stranger.”
Truth: It’s actually less often that a woman gets sexually assaulted by a stranger popping out of a bush or something of that sort. It’s usually committed by friends of a friend, casual encounters, close friends, or even family members.
Truth: It’s actually less often that a woman gets sexually assaulted by a stranger popping out of a bush or something of that sort. It’s usually committed by friends of a friend, casual encounters, close friends, or even family members.
Belief: “Sexual assault is committed because a man can’t keep it in his pants.”
Truth: Not all people who commit a sexual assault crime do it because they are just horny. Some do it for power, revenge, out of anger, or to even gain control over their victim.
Truth: Not all people who commit a sexual assault crime do it because they are just horny. Some do it for power, revenge, out of anger, or to even gain control over their victim.
Belief: “Men can’t be sexually assaulted (or raped).”
Truth: Why yes, yes they can. Just because the media has built up men to be these overly sexual beings, and men feel ashamed to report being sexually assaulted or raped, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. More and more men are reporting being raped or sexually assaulted by women or other men.
Truth: Why yes, yes they can. Just because the media has built up men to be these overly sexual beings, and men feel ashamed to report being sexually assaulted or raped, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. More and more men are reporting being raped or sexually assaulted by women or other men.
Belief: “Women should know that they’re putting themselves at risk of assault if they are promiscuous.”
Truth: Seriously people, this is just not true and it's unfair. We shouldn’t be teaching girls to cover up, we should be teaching others not to rape or objectify the female body. Plus, many women who report being raped or sexually assaulted were not dressed provocatively or deemed to have a ‘promiscuous’ behavior.
Truth: Seriously people, this is just not true and it's unfair. We shouldn’t be teaching girls to cover up, we should be teaching others not to rape or objectify the female body. Plus, many women who report being raped or sexually assaulted were not dressed provocatively or deemed to have a ‘promiscuous’ behavior.
Belief: “If the victim says yes before they're under the influence then it’s obviously not sexual assault/rape.”
Truth: Consent is consent. If they’re too messed up to give an answer later on in the night, then you do not have consent. Think about it this way, if they said they were going to drive you home after the party, but then got too drunk, you wouldn’t force them to still drive you home. Even if they were trying to still drive you home, you wouldn’t let them because you know they’re too drunk. Sexual consent is just like that, get it?
Truth: Consent is consent. If they’re too messed up to give an answer later on in the night, then you do not have consent. Think about it this way, if they said they were going to drive you home after the party, but then got too drunk, you wouldn’t force them to still drive you home. Even if they were trying to still drive you home, you wouldn’t let them because you know they’re too drunk. Sexual consent is just like that, get it?
Belief: “Women lie all the time about being raped.”
Truth: First of all, only two to eight percent of reported rapes are false. Let us repeat that, only two to eight precent. That’s hardly anything. Plus, 60 percent of sexual assaults aren’t even reported to the police.
Truth: First of all, only two to eight percent of reported rapes are false. Let us repeat that, only two to eight precent. That’s hardly anything. Plus, 60 percent of sexual assaults aren’t even reported to the police.
Belief: Having a sexual rape fantasy means you'd like to get raped.
Truth: There is a huge difference, come on people. People who indulge in their sexual fantasies do this in a controlled and comfortable way, and have consented to it. Someone doing something to you against your will is a completely different story.
Truth: There is a huge difference, come on people. People who indulge in their sexual fantasies do this in a controlled and comfortable way, and have consented to it. Someone doing something to you against your will is a completely different story.
Belief: “Well, you’re safe from sexual assault on a college campus.”
Truth: Actually, one in five women in college report being sexually assaulted. However, fewer than one in 20 assaults are actually reported to the police.
Truth: Actually, one in five women in college report being sexually assaulted. However, fewer than one in 20 assaults are actually reported to the police.
Belief: But colleges would obviously expel anyone who tries to commit sexual assault”
Truth: You think that would be the case. However, sadly, many colleges are very secretive of these sorts of crimes, especially if committed by a student or faculty member, so many go unreported. One survey suggested that only 10% to 25% of men actually found guilty of sexual assault on college campuses are expelled.
Truth: You think that would be the case. However, sadly, many colleges are very secretive of these sorts of crimes, especially if committed by a student or faculty member, so many go unreported. One survey suggested that only 10% to 25% of men actually found guilty of sexual assault on college campuses are expelled.
Belief: “Rapists go straight to jail!”
Truth: That would be nice! Actually, only three percent of rapists are incarcerated. Most aren’t even taken to court!
Truth: That would be nice! Actually, only three percent of rapists are incarcerated. Most aren’t even taken to court!
Belief: “Watch out for roofies! That’s what sexual offenders use to get you!”
Truth: Actually, specialists report that a sexual offender’s weapon of choice is simply alcohol. They feed you as much as possible, and since binge-drinking is so popular amongst the young adult crowd these days, it’s easy to get a person drunk to the point of blacking out or passing out.
Truth: Actually, specialists report that a sexual offender’s weapon of choice is simply alcohol. They feed you as much as possible, and since binge-drinking is so popular amongst the young adult crowd these days, it’s easy to get a person drunk to the point of blacking out or passing out.
Belief: “Victims of sexual assault act differently than everyone else.”
Truth: No. As stated before, most women don’t even report being sexually assaulted, so most of the time you won’t even know.
Truth: No. As stated before, most women don’t even report being sexually assaulted, so most of the time you won’t even know.
Belief: “Well, women can avoid sexual assault by walking in groups, not getting wasted, and not letting themselves be alone with someone they just met.”
Truth: Come on, guys! This is the same as if she’s considered ‘promiscuous.’ Let her live her life, she’s not hurting anyone. You know who is? The sexual offenders who aren’t taught not to rape, but are instead taught to sexualize the female body.
Truth: Come on, guys! This is the same as if she’s considered ‘promiscuous.’ Let her live her life, she’s not hurting anyone. You know who is? The sexual offenders who aren’t taught not to rape, but are instead taught to sexualize the female body.
So, have we all learned something here today? Sexual assault is a very serious thing and should not be thrown to the curb like it’s no big deal. It’s always a big deal.
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