SitedA lot of you, it seems, seriously believe a bunch of boogus about rape victims and rapists.
Here are some of the myths that you've all probably heard,
And here are the TRUTHS about rape and victims.
Myth: Rape is sex.
Fact: Rape is experienced by the victims as an act of violence. It is a life-threatening experience. One out of every eight adult women has been a victim of forcible rape. (National Victim Center and Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, 1992) While sexual attraction may be influential, power, control and anger are the primary motives.
Most rapists have access to a sexual partner. Gratification comes from gaining power and control and discharging anger. This gratification is only temporary, so the rapist seeks another victim.
Myth: Women
incite men to rape.
Fact: Research has found that the vast
majority of rapes are planned. Rape is the responsibility of the rapist alone. Women, children and men of every age, physical type and demeanor are raped. Opportunity is the most important factor determining when a given rapist will rape.
Myth:A victim should be discouraged from dwelling on the rape. She should "forget it".
Fact: This advice generally comes from people who are more concerned with their own feelings than the victim's.
All victims should be offered the opportunity to talk about the assault with those personally close to them and knowledgeable professionals. Victims who are not allowed to talk about the rape have a much more difficult time recovering form it.
Myth: You can tell a rapist by the way he looks.
Fact: Rapists are not physically identifiable. They may appear friendly, normal, and non-threatening.
Many are young, married and have children. Rapist types and traits however can be categorized.
Myth: Rape only happens to young attractive women.
Fact: Rape can and does strike anyone at anytime.
Age, social class, ethnic group and has no bearing on the person a rapist chooses to attack. Research data clearly proves that a way a woman dresses and / or acts does not influence the rapists choice of victims. His decision to rape is based on how easily he perceives his target can be intimidated. Rapists are looking for available and vulnerable targets.
Myth: Rapists are abnormal perverts; only sick or insane men are rapists.
FACT: In a study of 1300 convicted offenders,
few were diagnosed as mentally or emotionally ill. Most were well-adjusted but had a greater tendency to express their anger through violence and rage.
Myth: If a person doesn't "fight back" she/he wasn't really raped.
FACT: Rape is potentially life-threatening. Whatever a person does to survive the assault is the appropriate action. This includes if they don't "fight back" or try to attack their attacker.
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