Myths About Sexual Violence
Myths about sexual violence make it difficult for survivors to seek help, to speak out or be heard
MYTH: People are usually sexually assaulted by strangers
Fact: Our statistics show that 84% of perpetrators were known to the survivor, this would mirror international statistics (The Centre Annual Report, 2007)
MYTH: Only attractive women/men are raped/assaulted
FACT: All women and men are subject to the possibility of rape/assault. Interviews with rapists confirm that perceptions of the attractiveness of a woman/man in most cases is not an important factor of the attack. Impact of this myth: the mistaken belief that rape is about sexual attraction and that somehow a woman/man 'asked for it/ wanted it' by being attractive or getting dressed up.
MYTH: Rape doesn't have to happen; resist and you won't get raped/assaulted.
FACT: Physical force and violence is always present or implied in rape/assault. The perpetrator is in control of how they act, the victim is always reacting. Whether a victim reacts by resisting, freezing or submitting, the perpetrator will choose their action regardless. The impact of this myth: Survivors blame themselves. Society and the justice system question the survivor's actions.
MYTH: People often make false accusations of rape/ abuse.
FACT: Reporting rape/sexual abuse involves complex, invasive and sometimes traumatic procedures. Women/men who have been subjected to rape/sexual abuse are often treated with suspicion and disbelief. Taking these factors into consideration makes it seem highly unlikely that a woman/man would make a false accusation of rape/sexual abuse. Impact of the false allegations myth: Victims are disbelieved by family, friends and acquaintances, particularly if the rapist/abuser is known to them, because it is suspected they may harbour motives of revenge or spite. As a result victims do not report or proceed with prosecutions and those around them are reinforced in the belief that they lied in the first place.
MYTH: Sexual Violence is well reported to the Gardai.
FACT: The Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland Report (SAVI), 2002, Mg Gee et al, showed only one in ten people report an incidence of sexual violence to the Gardai. Fear of being disbelieved, of hurting their loved ones (if, for example, the perpetrator is a family member) and fear of the attacker can influence a survivor's decision not to report. Also many people try to forget it ever happened. Impact of low reporting: denial of the scale of the problem in our society and perpetrators continue to get away with it in huge numbers.
MYTH: Sexual violence only happens to an unfortunate few.
FACT: The Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland Report (SAVI), 2002, Mg Gee et al, found that one in five adult women and one in 10 adult men experience contact sexual violence. Impact: denial of the scale of the problem, the isolation of the victim and the empowerment of perpetrators.
MYTH: Child Sexual Abuse is a rare occurrence.
FACT: The SAVI Report found 20.4% of Irish women and 16.2% of Irish men had experienced contact sexual abuse in childhood. A further 10% of women and 7.4% of men had experienced non-contact abuse.
MYTH: A survivor of sexual violence can never really recover from the effects of the attack/abuse.
FACT: It is possible to fully recover from sexual violence and abuse. It is difficult to predict how long a recovery process will take for the individual and it can need commitment and patience. Counsellors in The Centre know this and will offer you the space and time you need to heal.
For further information pleaseclick here »
MYTH: Men/boys do not get raped.
FACT: Men/boys also experience sexual violence, they have started to attend our services over the years and report their abuse/attack to the Gardai.