Rape

Myths about rape

Rape statistics show:

• Rapists usually have raped approximately 14 times for each time they are caught
• Rapists are on an ascending scale of violence with each assault
• More than 50% of all rapes occur in the home of the victim
• More than 93% of the time, the assailant and the victim are of the same race

The mass media represents males in superior social and physical positions and women as helpless and vulnerable. For example, in films, women are often depicted not only as vulnerable victims, but as victims who, once raped, degraded and dehumanized, come to accept this treatment and grow to love their attackers.

Myths have a manifest purpose of legitimizing aberrant behavior, such as rape. Studies have shown that women as well as men believe in many rape myths and are aroused by rape depictions. For example, some men believe that women will respond to sexual force even if they initially refuse sexual advances. 

One myth is that rape is a crime caused by uncontrollable sex drive. Men in prison for serial rape often claim that they felt such a compulsion for sex that they could not help themselves. However, this claim does not hold water because virtually all such men either were married or otherwise had available sex partners when they committed the crimes.