Information for Families and Friends | Personal Safety | Recommended Reading
Myths Surrounding Sexual Assault
| Myth: | Sexual Assault is a rare occurrence. |
| Fact: | According to the Uniform Crime Reporting survey, rates of sexual assault incidents reported to the police across Canada have increased an average 12% each year since 1983. According to the Badgley Commissions (1984) 1 in 2 females and 1 in 3 males will be sexually assaulted at some time in their lives and 80% of these assaults will occur before the age of 18. |
| Myth: | If the victim has consumed alcohol or drugs then it is not a sexual assault. |
| Fact: | Whether the victim consumed alcohol or drugs prior to the offence is irrelevant. The assault is the responsibility of the offender - who chose to commit a crime. The Criminal Code of Canada, in defining consent, has allowed that someone too incapacitated by drugs or alcohol will be deemed not to have consented. This is a recognition that some offenders will prey on people in this vulnerable state. |
| Myth: | It is impossible to sexually assault someone against their will. If they did not want to be assaulted they could have fought or run away. If there are no bruises or injuries, there was no assault. |
| Fact: | Even in cases where there is no weapon used, the offender may threaten to hurt or kill the victim if there is resistance. The victim may also fear they or someone close to them will be hurt or killed. Submitting without a struggle does not mean the victim consented to the sexual assault. Victims may submit after being threatened, hoping to reduce the chance of injury or death. Whether the victim judges it safe to resist or not, the victim is never to blame for the assault. |
| Myth: | All offenders are strangers to the victim. |
| Fact: | Approximately 85% of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows or may have had contact with in the past such as a friend, partner, family member, relative, neighbour or co-worker. |
| Myth: | Offenders rarely repeat their crimes once they are caught and punished. |
| Fact: | Offenders rarely attack only once. On average, offenders will offend 100 times in their lifetimes. Those who are caught and forced into therapy against their will re-offend up to 99% of the time. Intervention with effective therapy, and a desire to change may make a difference. |
