 |
Myths and Facts
There are many myths surrounding sexual assault. These myths serve to deny the reality of sexual assault, diminish the perception of the impact of sexual assault, blame the victims, and protect the offender by implying that they are not responsible for their abusive actions or behaviours.
Why does it happen?
Sexual assault is not really about sex, but rather about using sex as a means of exerting power and control over another person.
Facts about sexual assault
- Whilst the common perception is that most sexual assaults are committed by strangers in streets or parks, the majority of sexual assaults are perpetrated by someone known to the victim survivor and occur in places that are familiar or that seem non-threatening. These can be either in a private or public setting where people such as families, friends, colleagues and other groups of people considered non-threatening gather.
- One in 3 girls is sexually assaulted and one in 6 boys is sexually assaulted before the age of 18.
- Recent research revealed that when adults were asked if they would believe a child who told them they had been sexually assaulted 31% said that they would not believe the child.