Myth: Rape happens only to “certain” types of women.
The most effective way to confront and tackle rape myths is to educate yourself on the facts and challenge them when you encounter them. These false statements not only shame survivors into silence they also hurt our community’s general knowledge of sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Rape myths have grown out of the long-standing gender roles, acceptance of violence, and incorrect information concerning sexual violence that exist in our society. Rape myths are false beliefs people hold about sexual assault that shift blame from the perpetrator to the survivor. We encourage you to proceed with caution and reach out to confidential resources if you need additional support.
Content Warning: Please note that reading the following false statements may be upsetting or triggering to some.
