Myths and truths regarding rape are:
– Myth – rapists are mentally ill, truth – rapists can be anybody and they can’t be identified by just looking at them
– Myth – men rape for sex, truth – rape is a weapon used to gain power and control over another person
– Myth – women can prevent being raped if they fight back, truth – offenders use emotional manipulation, weapons or threats to subdue women
– Myth – Most rapists are unknown to their victims, truth – most rapists are known to their victims
– Myth – Women who wear revealing clothing invite rape, truth – appearance and clothing have nothing to do with rape
– Myth – Victims cause their own rape by going into an unsafe area, truth – victims are more likely to be sexually assaulted in their homes or places known to them
– Myth – Promiscuous persons get raped, truth – the lifestyle and personality of a victim makes no difference
– Myth – Wives cannot be raped by their husbands, truth – a man can be charged with rape if he forces his wife to have sex with him
– Myth – Women say no when they mean yes, truth – No always means no
– Myth – A person who gets drunk invites rape, truth – it is not a crime to consume alcohol, it is a crime to rape
Emergency numbers to contact if you have been or know of someone who has been raped are 10111, 08600 10111.
There is also a helpline for women who are abused 0800 150 150, childline 0800 055 555 and an Aids helpline 0800 012 322.
Rape victims should not blame themselves
Myths and truths on rape revealed.
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