Myth: A person cannot sexually assault their spouse or partner. Fact: Nearly 1 in 10 women are sexually assaulted by an intimate partner. Before the reformation of the definition of sexual assault or rape, a man could not be tried for the sexual assault or rape of their wife.

Myth: Men are not victims of sexual violence. Fact: 1.5% of all men have been raped and 47% of bisexual men have experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime. Contrary to popular belief, men can be raped. While it is less common for the survivor to be male

Myth: People with disabilities are at low risk for sexual assault. Fact: People with disabilities are victims of sexual assault twice as much as people without disabilities. Many people believe that physical or mental disabilities are a deterrent to sexual violence however, it

Myth: If a victim of sexual assault does not fight back, they must have thought the assault was not that bad or they wanted it. Fact: Many survivors experience tonic immobility or a “freeze response” during an assault where they cannot physically move or speak. Have you heard of

Myth: Rape does not happen that often. Fact: There is an average of 293,066 victims ages 12 or older of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States. This means one sexual assault occurs every 107 seconds. Many people believe that rape is a rare occurrence, but the

Myth: Wearing revealing clothing, behaving provocatively, or drinking a lot means the victim was “asking for it.” Fact: The perpetrator selects the victim- the victim’s behavior or clothing choices do not mean that they consent to sexual activity. Society often argues that the

Myth: Getting help is expensive for survivors. Fact: Services such as counseling and advocacy are offered for free or at a low cost by sexual assault service providers. States and counties often have non-profit organizations to advocate for men and women who have fallen victim

Myth: A lot of victims lie about being raped or give false reports. Fact: Only 2-8% of rapes are falsely reported, the same percentage as for other felonies. People who deny the occurrence of rape often argue that a majority of rapes are falsely reported. In reality, for every

Myth: People who have been sexually assaulted will be hysterical and crying. Fact: Everyone responds differently to trauma- some may laugh, some may cry, and others will not show any emotion. Everyone processes trauma differently. It is okay to be emotionless and it is okay to

If you have been a victim of sexual violence and need assistance seeking help, feel free to DM us. We'd love to help guide you to support services. Or if you just need someone to talk to, we are here too :) National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Myth: Most people are assaulted by an ominous stranger waiting in an alley Fact: Only 23% of victims are raped by a stranger Contrary to popular belief, not all assaults are committed by a stranger. A large majority of the time assaults are committed by an acquaintance -- a

Myth: Rape occurs due to a man's inability to restrain his sexual desires. Fact: Rape is about power and control, not one's inability to control their urges. Rape is driven by the perpetrator's need for dominance and control rather than simply being unable to control their

Myth: A woman can't rape a man. Fact: While it is rare, people of all genders can be perpetrators of sexual violence. A common misconception is that women cannot rape men. While it is rare, men have been raped by women. This misconception often revolves around the belief that

Myth: Sexual responses such as a climax or natural lubrication prove that the victim was enjoying themselves. Fact: Sexual responses are strictly related to stimuli, not one's personal feelings or thoughts. This means someone can be completely against it and their body will

Myth: Many who commit rape are sick, they suffer from mental issues, or they cannot control themselves. Fact: Very few perpetrators are mentally ill, the majority of them are completely sane. The myth that many individuals who commit rape are mentally ill or unable to control