Myth: Rape is committed by strangers.
Fact: Most rapes occur at home. More often than not the offender is a relative, friend, neighbour or acquaintance known to the survivor.
Myth: Rape is a 'spur of the moment' act.
Fact: Most rapists plan carefully in advance, and set up situations so the rape can take place. A rapist is capable of raping again and again.
Myth: Rape happens when men lose their self-control.
Fact: Men who rape know very well what they are doing. Rape is an act of control.
Myth: A woman can't be raped by her husband.
Fact: Rape in marriage is common. It's also a crime. When a person is forced to have sex through emotional or financial blackmail, it is rape. It is also rape if a woman is forced into oral and anal sex by her partner.
Myth: It is not that serious; I’ll just ignore it and hope it won’t happen again.
Fact: Rape and sexual assault are criminal offences and offenders are liable to sentences of life imprisonment.
Myth: Women 'ask for it' by the way they dress or behave.
Fact: This is like saying that someone wants to be robbed because they have money in their wallet. Rapists look for targets they think they can hit, not women who dress or behave in a particular way. Nobody asks to be hurt or degraded.
Myth: Only young women are raped.
Fact: Rape is an act of violence that can happen at any time in a person’s life regardless of gender.
The trouble with myths is that they make the offender’s actions less risky. Myths make it harder for the survivor to find support, go to the police and generally recover.