Myths and Facts

Individuals provoke Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault by the way they dress or when they act in a promiscuous manner.

Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault is never the fault of the victim. It is an act of violence and control that stems from a person’s determination to exercise power over another. Neither the way a person dresses nor their previous sexual behavior are invitations for sexual activity.

If a person goes to a bar or back to someone’s room or house, they assume the risk of Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault. If something happens later, they can’t claim that they were sexually assaulted because they should have known not to go to those places.

This idea of an “assumption of risk” wrongfully places the responsibility of the offender’s action on the victim. Engaging in sexual activity with someone without their affirmative consent is Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault, no matter where it happens. Going to someone’s home or room voluntarily and consenting to some sexual activity does not serve as affirmative consent for all sexual activity. 

It is not Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault if it happens after drinking or taking drugs.

Being under the influence is not an invitation for sexual activity, nor does it cause others to assault them. Instead, people choose to take advantage of their vulnerability. A person who is incapacitated is not able to consent to sexual activity.

Most Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assaults are committed by strangers. It’s not assault if the people involved know each other.

Most Sexual Assaults are committed by someone the victim knows, whether a current or former intimate partner, classmate, friend, acquaintance or co-worker.

Sexual Assaults can be avoided if women avoid dark alleys or other “dangerous” places where strangers might be hiding or lurking.

Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault can occur at any time, in many places, to anyone. The majority of them occur at or near the victim’s home.

A person who has really experienced Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault will be hysterical.

There is no “right way” to react to being sexually assaulted. A person who has faced Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault might show a spectrum of responses: calm, hysteria, withdrawal, anxiety, anger, apathy, denial or shock. Reaction to the assault and the length of time needed to process the experience vary with each person.

A person who has experienced Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault will report the crime immediately to the police. If they do not report it or wait to report it, then they must have changed their minds, wanted revenge, or didn’t want to appear sexually active.

Just because a person does not report the incident does not mean it did not happen. There are many reasons someone may not report the assault to the police or campus officials. It is not easy to talk about, and the experience of retelling what happened may cause the person to relive the trauma. Another reason is fear of retaliation by the offender. There is also the fear of being blamed, not being believed and being required to go through judicial proceedings. 

Only heterosexual women are assaulted.

Sexual violence affects people of every gender identity and sexual orientation. While women and girls experience sexual violence at high rates, men and boys also experience sexual assault. Transgender and nonbinary individuals experience high rates of sexual violence. Beliefs about the “typical” victim can stop others from reporting assaults because they may feel they do not fit the stereotypical victim profile.

It’s only Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault if the victim puts up a fight and resists.

Not fighting or resisting an attack does not equal consent. There are a number of reasons why a person who is sexually assaulted may not resist. They might react in a way that stops them from moving, sometimes called “tonic immobility.” They may also worry that fighting back will anger their attacker, resulting in more severe injury. Assault experts say that victims should trust their instincts and do what they think will help them survive.

Someone can only be sexually assaulted if a weapon was involved.

In many cases of Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault, a weapon is not involved. The offender often uses physical strength or violence, intimidation, threats, or a combination of these tactics to overpower the victim. Having a weapon during the assault may lead to more serious charges; however, the absence of a weapon doesn’t mean that the offender won’t face criminal charges for the assault.