Myth

• The way women dress or behave can be the reason for the sexual assault.

Fact

• Age, appearance, social standing and marital status are not barriers to being assaulted.

Myth

• Sexual assault only happens at the hands of a stranger in a dark alley.

Fact

• In approximately 69% of cases, the perpetrator was known to the victim.

• Most victims are sexually assaulted in their own homes.

• Many women are raped by their husbands.  Marital rape was not included in Canada's Criminal Code until 1983.

• Many teenage girls are sexually assaulted on dates.

• Many children have sexual acts forced upon them by trusted family members.
  This includes cousins, uncles, stepfathers, brothers and fathers etc... and occasionally mothers and sisters, etc.  This is called incest.  Many women and men do not remember their experiences of child sexual abuse until many years later.

Myth

• The rapist is motivated by sexual desire.

Fact

• Sexual assault is a crime of violence not a crime of passion.

• The attacker acts out of a need to have control over someone and/or to express anger.

• Assaults are usually planned.

• Men can control their sexual impulses.

• Some men hear a clearly spoken "no" as an invitation to use force.

Myth

• Victims should or could have done something to prevent a sexual assault and that they are to blame.

Fact

• Victims are not to blame.  Verbal threats or intimidation may cause the victim to submit. Victims are often afraid of being killed or seriously injured.

If you are sexually assaulted - this is a crime - your freedom of choice has been removed.  Remember,
the offender made the decision
to commit the crime and carried it out.
THE VICTIM IS NOT TO BLAME.