Sexual Assault Resource Center

Common Myths about Sexual Assault

Several myths exist about sexual assault. These myths most often shift responsibility, blame or focus from the assailant to the victim. Understanding the myths surrounding sexual assault may help you in your recovery or help you in being more supportive. If you have been assaulted, what happened to you was a CRIME. You are not to blame for the assailant’s behavior.

MYTH: Rape is caused by the rapist’s uncontrollable sexual urge.
FACT: Most rapes are planned. Rape is an act of power and control, not of sexual desire.

MYTH: Rapists are mentally ill or psychotic, and cannot help themselves.
FACT: Very few people who commit sexual assault are mentally incompetent and/or out of touch with reality.

MYTH: The victim must have “asked for it” by being seductive, careless, drunk, high, etc.
FACT: No one asks to be abused, injured, or humiliated. This line of thought focuses on blaming a victim instead focusing on the assailant . An assailant makes the choice to commit a crime not the victim. Criminal behavior is not justified by reasoning that a person “asked for it.”

MYTH: If people would just stop drinking so much, they wouldn’t be sexually assaulted.
FACT: Alcohol is a weapon that some assailants use to control their victim and render them helpless. As part of their plan, an assailant will encourage the victim to use alcohol, or identify an individual who is already drunk. Alcohol is not a cause of sexual assault; it is only one of many tools that assailants use. Sexual assault still happens in the absence of alcohol.