GRSJ224/Rape Myths in the Context of Sex Education

What are Rape Myths?

Rape myths are beliefs that victims of rape are somehow responsible for their victimization and relieve the perpetrator from responsibility. Burt (1980) defined rape myths as “prejudicial, stereotyped, or false beliefs about rape, rape victims, and rapists”. Myths of rape give people a false sense of security by legitimizing sexual assault or denying that it even occurs. They often do this by blaming the victim for their experience or making excuses and minimizing their assault. In effect, these myths perpetuate sexual assault by not addressing the realities of rape.

Suarez & Gadalla note that, “according to the 1996 National Violence Against Women Survey in the United States, one in six women has been a victim of sexual assault or rape, compared to 1 in 33 men. The survey also estimated that more than 300,000 women are raped every year in the United States,” while, “in Canada, in 2004, published statistics indicated that of 23,000 sexual assault incidents, 86% were reported by women.” One major problem in sexual assault and rape prevention however has to do with the very low number of reporting when it comes to such incidents. Even though these are only estimates, it is very likely that “a large number of incidents do not get reported,” and that’s because women often report “non-supportive reactions that they often encounter after disclosing an assault”

Common Rape Myths Debunked

Myth: Rape and sexual assaults are impulsive acts of passion. It is an act of sexual gratification, and cannot be controlled.

Fact: Rape is experienced by the victims as an act of violence. It is a life-threatening experience. One out of every eight adult women has been a victim of forcible rape. (National Victim Center and Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, 1992) While sexual attraction may be influential, power, control and anger are the primary motives. Most rapists have access to a sexual partner. Gratification comes from gaining power and control and discharging anger. This gratification is only temporary, so the rapist seeks another victim.

Myth: Only young beautiful women are raped.

Fact: Although women between the ages of 15 and 25 are at somewhat higher risk of sexual assault than any other age groups, victims of reported rape in this country range from 3 weeks old to 93 years old.

Myth: When it comes to sex, women and girls sometimes 'play hard to get' and say 'no' when they really mean 'yes'.

Fact: Everyone has the legal right to say 'no' to sex and to change their mind about having sex at any point of sexual contact; if the other person doesn't stop, they are committing sexual assault or rape. When it comes to sex, we must respect the wishes of our sexual partner and believe what they tell us about what they do and don't want. No means no.

Myth: Women Provoke Rape By The Way They Dress or Act (She "asked for it")

Fact: Rape is an act of violence and control; the perceived 'attractiveness' of a victim has very little to do with it. The belief that the way the women are dressed provoke rape contributes to victim blaming. Where the fault is taken off the offender by the logic that they couldn't help themselves and that the women "asked for it." There is no excuse or mitigation for sexual violence and it is never the victim/survivor's fault. What someone was wearing when they were raped or how they behave is irrelevant.

Myth: If two people have had sex with each other before, it's always OK to have sex again.

Fact: If a person is in a relationship with someone or has had sex with them before, this does not mean that they cannot be sexually assaulted or raped by that person. Consent must be given and received every time two people engage in sexual contact. It is important to check in with our sexual partners and make sure that anything sexual that happens between us is what we both want, every time.

Myth: Men don't get raped and women don't commit sexual offences.

Fact: The majority of sexual assaults and rapes are committed by men against women and children but a small number of women do perpetrate sexual violence. Often people who've been sexually assaulted or abused by a woman are particularly fearful that they will not be believed or that their experiences won't be considered 'as bad' as being raped by a man. This can make it especially difficult for these survivors to access services or justice. Men and boys could also be victims of rape and sexual assaults, and suffer from social stigmas relating to the issue on top of the emotional trauma following the assault.

Sex Education

Although the requirement for sex education in schools in Canada covers the topic of consent, it is not required to mention rape myths or issues related to rape and sexual assaults. The sex education in Canada requires that information are introduced to students at an age appropriate level which varies from provinces to provinces. The requirements generally include body parts, sexual orientation, gender identity, STIs and prevention, internet safety, birth control, understanding consent, and sexual abuse. It is assumed that the issue of rape myths and rape related topics will be covered under consent and sexual abuse, however in detailed curriculums for sex education in Canada, there is a lack of mention of rape myths as well as related issues such as intimate partner violence which is part of the rape myths that rape does not occur within intimate relationships.

After reviewing a number of studies, Suarez & Godalla (2010) found that, when it comes to sex education, “the content of rape-education programs must be broadened to incorporate strategies to also address other oppressive beliefs concurrent with the acceptance of rape myths and sexism, such as racism, classism, and so on.” The findings reveal that indeed, North American society deserved to be called a “rape culture,” and that the only societies which are “rape-free” are those which “have an egalitarian view of men’s and women’s contributions to society, and thus, have an absence of male-dominance ideology.” So, the purpose of sexual education, should be connected to the larger scope of education in general, and emphasize a diminishing of the binary perspective, as well as focusing on achieving an equality of sexes in society.

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