Rape Myths

Rape Myths

Common rape myths often pose serious consequences for the individual woman; for her social network; for society at large; and for the legal system, which attempts to fix responsibility for the crime. Rape myths are culturally accepted misconceptions that place inaccurate causes, effects, and responsibility for sexual assaults. “Crimes such as rape and battering are surrounded by an elaborate mythology which reflect popular stereotypes about female and male sexuality” (Harding and Nelson 1985). Lonsway and Fitzgerald (1994) define rape myths as "attitudes and beliefs that are generally false but are widely and persistently held, and that serve to deny and justify male sexual aggression against women." Most researchers would agree that rape myths and the prevalence of rape are related to each other. Many would agree that in order to reduce the incidences of rape in this culture fundamental attitudes, which include sex-role stereotyping, a belief in adversarial relationships between men and women, and a belief that holds violence as a justifiable means to an end, must be changed.

Sexual-Cause Rape Myths: Table I

Motivation Precipitating Behavior Implications for Victims

Victim as Culprit

She stayed out too late.

She shouldn’t have gone to the party.

She shouldn’t have been drinking.

She dresses too sexily.

She led him on or teased him.

She is sexually loose.

She is vindictive, made false accusation.

She has poor judgement.

She has poor judgement.

She has poor judgement.

She is manipulative.

She is manipulative.

She is immoral.

She is manipulative and immoral.

Offender as Culprit

He could not control himself.

He is a sexual deviant.

Manipulated or turned on by the woman.

Her poor judgement placed her in harm’s way.

Rape Myths: Table 2

Type Examples Implications

To Resist will always Result in Avoidance.

You can’t rape the willing.

A woman can run faster with her skirt up than a man with his pants down.

A man cannot have sex with someone who is unwilling.

Failure to avoid implies that she secretly wanted to have sex forced upon her.

Failure to present injuries as proof implies that the act was consensual.

Submit to Avoid Injury.

If a woman gives in to his sexual demands, she won’t get hurt.

There’s really little or nothing women can do to avoid rape.

She gave in to him, so she really must have wanted it.

Implies offender’s sexual motivation and further implies a general ineptness on the part of women.

Iimplies that the woman secretly wanted to be raped. May also imply that she is leveling a false accusation.

Security from Others

Her father, brothers, or husband will protect her.

Men would not do that to the women in their lives.

Implies that women are inept at taking care of themselves; it also implies that others will always be around to protect her.

Implies that male relatives, friends, acquaintances do not rape.

Security from the Law

If these men undergo castration, they won’t rape.

If prostitution were legalized then rates of rape would decrease.

Sending them to prison for a long time will make them think about what they’ve done and it will make them reluctant to offend again.

Implies that the motivation for rape is sexual and the need to treat offenders’ is unnecessary after castration is effected.

Implies the cause of rape is a matter of lack of sexual control.

Implies that the legal system will resolve the issue of rape.

Motivation	Precipitating Behavior	Implications for Victims
Victim as Culprit	She stayed out too late. She shouldn’t have gone to the party. She shouldn’t have been drinking. She dresses too sexily. She led him on or teased him. She is sexually loose. She is vindictive, made false accusation.	She has poor judgement. She has poor judgement. She has poor judgement. She is manipulative. She is manipulative. She is immoral. She is manipulative and immoral.
Offender as Culprit	He could not control himself. He is a sexual deviant.	Manipulated or turned on by the woman. Her poor judgement placed her in harm’s way.

Type	Examples	Implications
To Resist will always Result in Avoidance.	You can’t rape the willing. A woman can run faster with her skirt up than a man with his pants down. A man cannot have sex with someone who is unwilling.	Failure to avoid implies that she secretly wanted to have sex forced upon her. Failure to present injuries as proof implies that the act was consensual.
Submit to Avoid Injury.	If a woman gives in to his sexual demands, she won’t get hurt. There’s really little or nothing women can do to avoid rape. She gave in to him, so she really must have wanted it.	Implies offender’s sexual motivation and further implies a general ineptness on the part of women. Iimplies that the woman secretly wanted to be raped. May also imply that she is leveling a false accusation.
Security from Others	Her father, brothers, or husband will protect her. Men would not do that to the women in their lives.	Implies that women are inept at taking care of themselves; it also implies that others will always be around to protect her. Implies that male relatives, friends, acquaintances do not rape.
Security from the Law	If these men undergo castration, they won’t rape. If prostitution were legalized then rates of rape would decrease. Sending them to prison for a long time will make them think about what they’ve done and it will make them reluctant to offend again.	Implies that the motivation for rape is sexual and the need to treat offenders’ is unnecessary after castration is effected. Implies the cause of rape is a matter of lack of sexual control. Implies that the legal system will resolve the issue of rape.