Rape Myths

Criminal Justice
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Rape Myths
Myth: Sexual Assault does not occur Often
Fact: This particular myth has tended to claim that sexual harassment is a rare occurrence. However, this is completely contrary to the known facts about incidences of sexual assault. Sexual harassment is said to be affecting the lives of about 60% women in the workplaces, and the figure remains the same for female students in learning institutions such as colleges and universities (Kanchan, & Krishan, 2016). In the United States, statistics have indicated that sexual assault occurs after every two minutes. Furthermore, it is also found that one in every five women will be a victim of sexual assault in their lifetime. For men, the ratio is determined to be one in every 72 men for the entire lifetime of the male population in the United States. To support the fact that sexual assault occurs more often, sexual offenses are one of the most poorly reported crimes with more than 50% of the cases being left unreported (King, 2016).
Myth: Sexual Assault is committed by Strangers
Fact: The myth is contrary to the reality since 75% of sexual offenses are usually committed by the person the victim knows very well. In a research conducted on juvenile sexually assaulted victims, it was found that about 94% of the victims knew their offenders. The juveniles reported that their neighbor, spouse or classmate committed the sexual offense. Amongst the adult populations, the reports indicated that a coworker, a neighbor, classmate, partner or ex-partner was involved in the defilement (Hayes, Lorenz & Bell, 2013).

Psychologically, it is easier for somebody to lure a person they know very well into a sexual trap than luring a stranger. This fact also supports the idea that strangers do not usually commit sexual assaults.
Myth: Women who are sexually assaulted provoke it by dressing provocatively
Fact: This myth could be viewed as defense being used by sexual assault culprits to shift the responsibility of the crime to the victim. No law provides a person with the right to rape another person because they feel that another party is dressing provocatively. Studies have established that victims of sexual harassment varied in their physical appearances such as dressing, age, and behavior. The common occurrence in the sexually assaulted victims was found to be the issue of gender where women were mostly subjected to sexual assault as compared to men (King, 2016). Approximately 98% of women as compared to men were subjected to sexual assault. The myth about women dressing provocatively to communicate something for advancing their careers in the workplaces does not make any sense because not all sexually assaulted women meet the tragedy in work setting (Hayes, Lorenz & Bell, 2013).
Myth: Rape Only Happens to Young Sexy Women
Fact: This is another controversial perception about sexual assaults. The idea is false since incidences of rape have occurred with the old, married, single, male or female and of any ethnic group, tribe and race. This belief tries to contradict with the essence of sexual assault because beauty and attraction are different from sexual defilement. Offenders do not select their victims by beauty, but they pick on the basis vulnerability of the person. The more vulnerable a victim is, the more possible they are likely to execute their mission (Home, n. d.). The vulnerability factor is the reason why the young, the old and persons with disabilities find themselves in a rapists trap.
Myth: Only mentally ill men or sexually starved men assault women
Fact: This particular concept is a myth because rapists are found to have a sane mind and have a normal sex drive. Surprisingly, most sexual offenders have a partner, are in a marriage and have normal types of behaviors. Men rapists tend to blame their ‘manhood’ as the cause of the offense. Some sexual offenses have occurred because the offenders wanted to use sex to punish their aggressors (Home, n. d.). Researchers have indicated that very few sexual offenders are found to be out of touch with the reality while the offense was being committed. In most instances, sexual assaults are planned before they come to happen (King, 2016). An insane individual cannot stage a well-executed sexual act towards another person.
Why Misconceptions about Sexual Myths exist and How to Dispel Them
The myths about sexual violence exist because of different cultural beliefs across different parts of the world. Some cultures have tended to take rape as a ritual or a cure for mysterious illnesses. Such beliefs have encouraged some individuals to engage in sexual acts with the aim of healing themselves from such problems (Hayes, Lorenz & Bell, 2013). The misconceptions about sexual assault can be combated through proper sensitization of the communities on the issue of beliefs and health. In some world regions, victims of the deadly HIV are made to believe that engaging in a sexual act with a child or an elderly would heal them from the virus. However, HIV is a scientifically proven viral infection that does not have a cure at the moment, and any perception of that kind indicates a community that is not enlightened. Enlightening the community is essential for ensuring that individuals are not deceived into committing the crimes. Punishment for the offenders should be increased to serve as a good lesson for those who intend to commit the crimes. The society should also join hand in curbing the situation by identifying individuals who have such behavior in the society and increasing the reporting of sexual offenses.
References
Hayes, R. M., Lorenz, K., & Bell, K. A. (2013). Victim blaming others: Rape myth acceptance
and the just world belief. Feminist Criminology, 1557085113484788.
Home. (n.d.). Retrieved November 07, 2016, from HYPERLINK “C:UsersuserDownloads372314025-Rape-Myths.docx”http://www.acesdv.org/about-sexual-
domestic-violence/sexual-violence-myths-misconceptions/
King, L. L. (2016). Perceptions About Sexual Offenses Misconceptions, Punitiveness, and Public
Sentiment. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 0887403416660150.
Kanchan, T., & Krishan, K. (2016). Challenging the myths: The way forward in prevention of
rapes. Journal of forensic nursing, 12(1), 45.