MYTHS &
MISCONCEPTIONS
ABOUT RAPE
Reported by: Domingo, Vivien Renei Job M.
Masilungan, Carmelita Joy D.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION MYTH OR FACT
01 > Common definition of rape
> What are rape myths?
02 > Examples of misconceptions
> Dispelling rape myths
CONCLUSION
03 > Why do myths about rape exist?
> Summary of the report
RAPE and SEXUAL
ASSAULT
The legal definition of rape is The overall definition of sexual
when a person intentionally or indecent assault is an act of
penetrates another's vagina, physical, psychological and
anus or mouth with a penis, emotional violation in the form
without the other person's of a sexual act, inflicted on
consent. someone without their consent.
WHAT ARE
RAPE MYTHS?
Rape myths are stereotypical and
erroneous beliefs about sexual
assault, women who are victims of
sexual assault, and men who
perpetrate sexual assault.
MYTH?
OR
FACT?
MYTH #1:
CLOTHING = CONSENT?
MYTH FACT
Rape and sexual assault are crimes of
Victims provoke sexual assaults when violence and control that stem from a
they dress provocatively or act in a person’s determination to exercise power
promiscuous manner. over another. Forcing someone to engage
in non-consensual sexual activity is
sexual assault, regardless of the way that
person dresses or acts.
DON’T
TELL ME
HOW TO
DRESS
The clothes in the exhibit, “Don’t Tell Me How
To Dress,” features representations of the
clothes that Filipina survivors wore when
they were sexually harassed or abused.
DON’T
TELL ME
HOW TO
DRESS
Walking to school, a teenage girl would receive
vulgar remarks from a construction worker every
morning. She eventually diverted to a longer
route to avoid the man.
DON’T
TELL ME
HOW TO
DRESS
These are the clothes of a 22-year-old
woman who was date-raped in a motel.
DON’T
TELL ME
HOW TO
DRESS
The piece of clothing of the
four-month-old infant who was raped.
MYTH #2:
DELAYED
DISCLOSURE
MYTH FACT
There is no reason for a victim not to There are many reasons why victims
report being raped to law may choose not to report to law
enforcement enforcement or tell anyone about what
happened to him/her.
DELAYED DISCLOSURE
MYTH #3: MOST SEXUAL
ASSAULTS ARE COMMITTED
BY STRANGERS
MYTH FACT
It’s not rape if the people Most victims know their rapist.
involved knew each other.
PERPETRATORS OF
CHILD SEXUAL
ABUSE ARE OFTEN
RELATED TO THE
VICTIM
Statistics is from Allen CPC. The Allen
Child Protection Center (ACPC) provides
assistance for children or dependent
adults who may be victims of abuse, or
have witnessed a violent crime.
MYTH #4: DRUNK OR HIGH =
NOT RAPE, NOT SEXUAL
ASSAULT
MYTH FACT
It’s not sexual assault if it Being under the influence of
happens after drinking or taking alcohol or drugs is not an invitation
drugs. for non-consensual
sexual activity.
MYTH #5: THE “BROKEN”
HYMEN
MYTH FACT
changes in the hymenal There is no medical
tissue’s anatomy are evidence to support the
indicative of intercourse belief that the hymen can
or sexual assault, and determine whether or not
continue to rely on a sexual intercourse has
hymen examination to taken place.
offer ‘proof’ of virginity
or sexual assault
Can the hymen
determine if sexual abuse
has occurred?
MYTH #6
“WOMEN JUST LIKE TO
PLAY THE VICTIM”
“CRY RAPE”
FACT
Reported sexual assaults are true,
with very few exceptions.
FBI CRIME
STATISTICS
2%
False reported cases
MYTH # 7
Men cannot be
sexually assaulted
FACT
Men can be, and are, sexually
assaulted
“The main reason that
fewer men come
forward is that people
assume they should
be invulnerable, they
should fight back.
They have allowed it –
so they must be
homosexual”
MYTH #8
NOT FIGHTING = CONSENT
NO BRUISES = NOT RAPE
FACT
Anytime someone is forced to have sex against
their will, they have been sexually assaulted,
regardless of whether or not they fought back, and
many rape survivors are not visibly injured.
MYTH # 9
“I’ll take that no as a YES!”
WHEN A WOMEN SAY NO,
THEY REALLY MEAN YES.
FACT
MYTH or FACT
WHAT IF THE VICTIM IS
AROUSED?
MYTH # 10
IF A PERSON IS AROUSED THEN HE/SHE IS
NOT SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
FACT
Orgasm does not mean that someone
“enjoyed” the sex, or that they wanted it.
WHY DO MYTHS
ABOUT RAPE EXIST?
● Misinformation and Lack of
Education
● Stereotypes and Biases
● Cultural Norms
● Fear and Denial
● Media Influence
● Social Pressure
● Limited Empathy or
Understanding
NOW WHAT
CAN WE DO?
IT CAN START
WITH YOU!
SPREAD THE
HELP & SUPPORT
WORD
OPEN YOUR EYES
EDUCATION AND LISTEN
03
CONCLUSION
“In order to escape
accountability for his crimes,
the perpetrator does everything
in his power to promote
forgetting. If secrecy fails, the
perpetrator attacks the
credibility of his victim. If he
cannot silence her absolutely, he
tries to make sure no one
listens.”
-Judith Lewis Herman
THANKS!
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