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Sexual assault is sexual contact made without someone's consent. It can be terrifying, humiliating, and confusing. Childhood sexual abuse, date/aquaintance rape, stranger assault, same gender assault, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation by professionals are some examples of sexual violations.
Anyone who experiences sexual violence has the right to ask for and
receive supportive services.
Sexual assault is not an act of passion or lust. It is only sexual in its method. Sexual assault is an act of power, control, and violence. These elements are obvious when a weapon, physical force or threats are used. They are also present through the use of coercion or
manipulation such as emotional blackmail, position of authority, age, physical size, gender, or status.
The vast majority of sexual assaults, 80 to 90%, are committed by someone the
victim knows. Sexual assaults are usually planned by the offender.
Myths and Facts About Sexual Assault compiled by Sexual Offense Services of Ramsey County. The myths presented below do not constitute an exhaustive list.
- Myth: Most sexual assaults occur when a person is out alone at
night and are committed by strangers.
- Fact: Statistics indicate that between 1/3 to 2/3 of all
sexual assualts occur in
either the victims home or in some other private residence. Sexual
assault can occur
at all hours. Studies find that about 80 to 90% of offenders are known by their victims.
- Myth:
Sexual assault is an impulsive, uncontrollable act of sexual gratification.
- Fact: Studies have shown that between 60 to 75% of
sexual assaults are planned in advance. Many offenders wait until their victim is alone, or lure their victim to a site where no one will interfere. One important emotional payoff for the
offender is to be in control, not out of control. The primary motive displayed by most convicted rapists is aggression, dominance and hatred, not sex.
- Myth: Any person could prevent rape if he or she really wanted to; no person can be raped against their will.
- Fact: The first concern of a
sexual assault victim is to survive, to live through the attack. No one but the victim can know at the time of the attack what he or she is capable of doing, what his or her danger is and
what
methods might succeed. We should not criticize a victim for doing what he or she feels they must do to save their own life. Insisting that a
victim must struggle to the death rather than submit to rape is really telling them that their lives are less valuable than their sexual integrity.
- Myth:
Sexual assault only occurs in large cities.
- Fact: Sexual assault happens in every area: cities, suburbs, and rural settings.
- Myth: Most
sexual assault involves African
American men and Caucasian women.
- Fact: FBI statistics show that 3% of
sexual assaults involve
African American men and Caucasian women. 4% involve Caucasian men and
African American women. Most sexual assaults involve an offender and victim of the same race and socioeconomic status.
- Myth: It is easy to prosecute a rapist.
- Fact: In 1991, at least 7,881 new
sexual assault cases were brought to Minnesota rape crisis centers. In this same year, 1,944 cases were reported to law enforcement agencies and 311
offenders were incarcerated for criminal sexual conduct in Minnesota.
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