issues > myths & stereotypes > myths debunked

Myths debunked

• Myth #1 - Women "bring sexual assault upon themselves".
• Myth #2 – Women lie about being sexually assaulted.
• Myth #3 – There are always visible injuries when someone is sexually assaulted.
• Myth #4 – You can identify a rapist by just looking at them - and they are usually from a particular race, or from a disadvantaged background.
• Myth #5 – Sexual assault is not a common problem.
• Myth #6 – Sexual assault is usually committed by strangers.
• Myth #7 - Avoiding being alone at night in a dark or deserted place is the best way for a woman to protect herself from sexual assault.
• Myth #8 - Unless she is physically harmed, a sexual assault victim will not suffer any long-term effects.

Myth #1 - Women "bring sexual assault upon themselves".

Many people erronously believe that women "bring it upon themselves" or "ask for it" if they invite someone into their home, be kind to someone, wear "provocative" clothing, offer someone a lift in their car, or are happy and enjoy a date (often erroneously labelled "flirting"). As Superintendent Andre Neethling points out, women can be just as guilty of perpetuating these myths as men.

"When we investigate a rape and speak to women witnesses they would say, 'Yeah, but she stands there with a mini-skirt on at the gate every day. She was looking for it.'"

Victims and survivors of sexual assault report a wide range of dress and actions at the time of the assault. Any woman of any age and physical type, in almost any situation, can be sexually assaulted. If a woman is sexually assaulted, it is not her fault.

No woman ever "asks" or deserves to be sexually assaulted. Regardless of what a woman wears, where she goes, to whom she talks, "no" means "no". It's the law.

Myth #2 – Women lie about being sexually assaulted.

Women rarely make false reports about sexual assault. In fact, sexual assault is a vastly under-reported crime. Unlike an armed robbery, in most cases of sexual assault there is only one witness – the person who is sexually attacked. Just because there is only one eyewitness does not mean the evidence should be disregarded.

Myth #3 – There are always visible injuries when someone is sexually assaulted.

As Superintendent Andre Neethling points out, "Sexual assault does not always [result in] injuries. That’s another myth - that you don’t have a case if there are no injuries. In the so-called 'date rape' situation, there’s hardly ever any injuries and we do take those cases on. It’s very difficult to prove them, but there [have been] some cases that successfully went through."

Myth #4 – You can identify a rapist by just looking at them - and they are usually from a particular race, or from a disadvantaged background.

No one type of man is more likely to commit a sexual assault than others. All types of men rape.

"We might be talking violent rape but there are so many date rapes that happen as well by decent men. It’s just that those rapes never get to be reported but they are rapes by decent men," says Bongani Linda.

"It’s not just the ugly, funny-looking person that’s going to rape. It could quite [easily] be a handsome person," says Superintendent Andre Neethling.

Myth #5 – Sexual assault is not a common problem.

Many people think sexual assault is not a common problem. This is far from true. See 'About the crime > Incidence'.

Myth #6 – Sexual assault is usually committed by strangers.

In most cases of sexual assault, the perpetrator is known to the person who is assaulted. Women face the greatest risk of sexual assault from men they know, not from strangers.

Myth #7 - Avoiding being alone at night in a dark or deserted place is the best way for a woman to protect herself from sexual assault.

In most cases, sexual assault happens in a private home and the majority of these are in the survivor's home. The idea that most sexual assaults fit the "stranger-in-a-dark-alley" stereotype can lead to a false sense of security in places other than alley ways.

Myth #8 - Unless she is physically harmed, a sexual assault victim will not suffer any long-term effects.

As sexual assault survivor Charlene Smith says, "I think there’s an over-emphasis on the physical act of penetration, attempted penetration, oral sex or any other form of attempted penetration. I think that the most serious effect of a rape is psychological."