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The following are myths about sexual assault. These myths excuse perpetrators for their actions and attempt to blame victims for what has happened. If we want to stop sexual assault and help people who have been sexually assaulted to recover and achieve justice, we need to break these sexual violence myths.

You can help by clicking on one of the myths below and printing it off. Place it on your notice board at work - change it each week or use any other ways you can think of to get people thinking about these myths.

Let us know how you get on by emailing us - info@nswrapecrisis.com.au.

The below documents are PDF files. If you don't have Acrobat Reader you can download the free software from the Adobe Acrobat website by clicking on the icon below:

MYTHS
1.
It could never happen to me
2.
Sexual assault is committed in dark alleys by strangers
3.
A rapist is easy to spot in a crowd
4.
Sexual assault is a spur of the moment act
5.
Sexual assault happens when men loose control
6.
Men sexually assault because they are frustrated - if prostitution were more available they wouldn't do it
7.
If she had sex with him before it can hardly be called sexual assault if it happens again
8.
Women 'ask for it' by the way they dress and behave
9.
Men don't get sexually assaulted
10.
Rape is primarily a sexual crime
11.
When a woman goes to a man's house she knows what to expect
12.
Only young women are raped
13.
It is not really possible to rape a non-consenting adult
14.
A woman can't be raped by her husband
15.
Rape only happens in the city
16.
Women lie about rape to get compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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