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- The victims of rape
are always women.
False.
Men, women and children - regardless of age, income or social
standing - can be, and are, the victims of sexual violence.
In 2002, nearly 32,000 men were forcibly raped or sexually
assaulted
Rennison,
Callie. August 2003. "National Crime Victimization, 2002."
Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S.
Department of Justice.
- Sexual violence can
be the victim's fault if she dresses seductively, "leads"
someone on, or says "no" when she really means "yes".
False.
Blaming the victim for the crime is the result of a myth that
sexual violence is nothing more than sex. The fact is
that sexual violence is a crime of power, a way for the powerless
to feel stronger. It has nothing to do with the way someone
dresses, acts or how much she's had to drink. The law
is, "NO MEANS NO".
- The motive for rape
isn't the result of uncontrollable sexual urges. Rather,
it's the need to gain a sense of power over the victim.
True.
Forcing someone to engage in a sexual act against his or her
will is an act of violence and aggression. Sex offenders
are not driven by uncontrollable sexual urges, but by an inability
to release feelings of anger and helplessness.
- About 1 in 20 girls
and 1 in 40 boys will become the victims of sexual violence by
the time they turn 18.
False.
By the time they turn 18, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 6 boys will
be victimized (Finkelhor, David, Hotaling, G., Lewis,
I., Smith, C. “Sexual Abuse in a National Survey of Adult
Men and Women: Prevalence, Characteristics, and Risk Factors.” Child
Abuse and Neglect, Vol. 14, pp. 19-28, 1990). Most
commonly, someone the child knows is responsible
for the abuse. Babysitters are the second largest group
of abusers behind fathers in substantiated cases of child
sexual violence in Pennsylvania.
Annual Report on Child
Abuse, 2003.
- If my child or a child
I know, was being sexually abused, she/he would tell me right
away.
False.
Because they are confused by the abuse, or may be threatened
by the abuser, children don't automatically tell a parent
--
even if the child is normally open. If a child is abused
by a biological parent, 55% don't disclose the abuse.
However, if they feel less loyalty toward their abuser, children
are more likely to report.
One
study found that 79 percent of children initially denied
their abuse or were tentative in disclosing. Of those
who did disclose,
approximately three-quarters disclosed accidentally. Additionally,
of those who did disclose, 22 percent recanted their statement.
Sorensen,
T. and Snow, B. How Children Tell: The Process of Disclosure
in Sexual Abuse. Child Welfare. 70:3-15.
1991. ( **I do not have
this document, but I feel very confident in using this
well-cited stat.)
- The victims of sexual
violence are usually white, and the offenders are usually black.
False.
In about 88% of forcible rapes, the victim and offenders were
of the same race. (OK) (D)
Greenfeld, Lawrence. Sex Offenses and Offenders. Bureau of
Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, February 1997.
The misconception
that the offender is usually of a different race
than the victim is in part because
of stereotypes and in part because the media
has traditionally sensationalized black-white sex crimes.
- Most sexual violence,
including child sexual violence, is committed by strangers in
a dark alleyway or some other out-of-the-way place.
False. Although
sexual violence can happen anywhere, to anyone, nearly 6
out of 10 rape/sexual assault incidents occurred in the victim’s
home or at the home of a friend, relative or neighbor. More
than half of rape/sexual assault incidents occurred within
one mile of the victim’s home or at their home.
Greenfeld, Lawrence. "Sex Offenses and Offenders." Bureau
of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, February
1997
33%
of sexual assaults took place during the daytime (6
a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Greenfeld.
- Acquaintance or date
rape often involves alcohol.
True. Although
alcohol does not give an offender an excuse to commit a
sex
crime, it can make the offender and/or victim feel more
relaxed, thus placing them in a situation that they normally
would avoid.
At least 50% of college student sexual assaults are associated
with alcohol use.
High Risk Drinking in College: What We Know
and What We Need to Learn,” NIAAA Reports, April 2002.
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/Reports/Panel101/HighRisk_04.aspx
- The victims of sexual
violence usually don't know their attacker.
False.
Most of the time, a victim knows his or her attacker.
Of the over 247,000 women raped or sexually assaulted during
2002, 67% identified the perpetrator as a nonstranger.
Rennison, Callie. August 2003. Criminal Victimization, 2002.
National Criminal Victimization Survey. Washington, D.C.: Bureau
of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice.
- Men are always the
offenders and women are always the victims.
False.
Although women are statistically more likely to be the victim,
males are also victims of sexual violence. Almost
1% of the entire prison population in the United States
(both male and female) consists of female sex offenders.
James, Doris. Profile of Jail Inmates, 2002. Bureau of
Justice Statistics Special Report. U.S. Department of Justice,
Office of Justice Programs. July 2004.
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