SARSAS10 facts about rape

10 facts about rape

What are often called rape myths are widely held beliefs that distort the facts about rape and sexual violence. These ideas can influence how people understand and respond to experiences of abuse, sometimes making it harder for victim-survivors to recognise what has happened or seek support.

These beliefs can also contribute to victim-blaming by focusing on the victim-survivor’s behaviour rather than the perpetrator’s actions. In reality, victim-survivors are never responsible, the responsibility always lies with the person who committed the harm.

This page replaces those myths with clear facts about rape, as sexual violence is never about sex, but about power and control.

FACT #1: The majority of perpetrators of rape and sexual assault are known to the victim-survivor. 6 in 7 rapes against women are committed by someone they know, and 2 in 5 rapes* are carried out by their partner or ex-partner.

There is a common misconception that rape occurs in ‘dark alley ways’, perpetrated by strangers, but this is untrue. It is more comfortable to associate rapists and abusers with unknown strangers, but often rapists are very well known to the survivor. Being raped can destroy a person’s world, taking away their freedom, trust and safety for the rest of their life.

*Stats from Rape Crisis England & Wales

FACT #2: False allegations of rape are extremely rare. Research suggests that only 4% of cases* of sexual violence reported to the UK police are found or suspected to be false.

Many people believe that survivors (particularly women and girls) lie about being raped or abused. In fact, this very rarely happens and does not happen more often than any other false report of a crime.
Rapists often claim their victims are lying to avoid taking responsibility for their actions.

*Stat from Home Office Research Study (2005)

FACT #3: Anyone can be a victim-survivor of rape or sexual assault. People of all genders, ages, social backgrounds, cultures, abilities, sexuality, ethnicities and faith are raped. However, we know that women and girls are disproportionately impacted.

Many people often associate the act of rape with young, conventionally attractive women. This is a very limited understanding of how rape and abuse are committed. Rape is an issue that can impact anyone. Men, women and children (including trans, non-binary and intersex people) can all have their lives, freedoms, trust and feelings of safety destroyed by an act of sexual violence.

FACT #4: Rapists use a variety of excuses to attempt to discredit victim-survivors to justify their crime. No matter what someone is wearing, how they are behaving, whether they are drinking or taking drugs, no one asks or deserves to be raped or sexually assaulted.

An excuse often repeated when a someone gets raped or assaulted is that their behaviour preceding the incident meant that they were ‘asking for it’ by wearing revealing clothes, being drunk, taking drugs, having a ‘bad’ reputation, hitch hiking, walking late at night or seducing the perpetrator. This is completely false, no one’s behaviour, language, intoxication, or clothing means they deserve to be raped or assaulted. These excuses perpetuate a culture that blames victim-survivors and deflects blame from the perpetrators of rape.

FACT #5: Perpetrators who rape or sexually assault people will often use weapons or threats of violence to intimidate their victim. The fact that there is no visible evidence of violence does not mean that someone has not been sexually assaulted. Most often this happens to women and girls, but rape and sexual assault can happen to anyone.

Sometimes people will question a survivor of rape or sexual assault because they don’t have visible injuries or wounds, this does not mean that the survivor was not raped or sexually assaulted. There are many reasons why a survivor may not have visible injuries following a rape or sexual assault, including the threat of further violence or murder.

FACT #6: While there is no ‘typical’ rapist, 91% of people prosecuted for sexual offences are men aged 18+*.

There are many myths surrounding perpetrators predominantly coming from certain racial, ethnic or economic backgrounds. This is completely incorrect, perpetrators of rape and sexual assault come from every part of our culture and society.

*Stats from Rape Crisis England & Wales

FACT #7: Rape and sexual violence is about power and control. Research suggests that very few perpetrators of sexual violence are experiencing psychosis or severe mental illness at the time of their crimes, and people with these conditions are more likely to be victims than perpetrators.

Often perpetrators or people defending perpetrators claim that many men who rape or sexually assault are mentally ill and therefore cannot be held accountable. Similarly, when someone is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, feeling stressed, or “not themselves,” they are still fully and completely accountable for their actions, including rape and sexual assault. There are never any excuses for perpetrating rape or sexual assault.

FACT #8: The majority of rapes are premeditated (i.e. they are either wholly or partially planned in advance). All rapes and acts of sexual violence that are committed by more than one assailant are pre-planned.

A commonly held preconception is that when a man becomes aroused, they cannot control themselves and the need to have sex. This is false. Men can quite easily control their urges to have sex – they do not need to rape a woman to satisfy urges or instincts. Rape is an act of violence – not sexual gratification. Men who rape or sexually assault do so to dominate, violate and control.

FACT #9: Sometimes people think that rape and sexual assault cannot be committed by a woman or cannot be committed by a woman against a woman. This is incorrect, rape and sexual assault can happen to anyone, and can be committed by anyone, including people in same sex relationships.

While the majority of sexual assaults are committed by men against women, anyone can be sexually assaulted, and emotional, physical and sexual abuse does happen in same sex relationships. Everyone who has experienced sexual violence deserves to be believed and able to access support.

FACT #10: Men and boys are raped and sexually assaulted every day in England and Wales – in fact, one in 20 men have experienced rape or sexual assault as an adult*. Sexual violence and abuse can have a lasting and serious impact on the lives and wellbeing of men and boys, just as it can for women and girls.

There is a stereotype that men cannot get sexually assaulted, this is false. Sexual assault can happen to anyone, and everyone who has experienced sexual violence deserves support. It is also important to remember that sexual assault is about violence, control and power, not desire. Being the target of a sexual assault has nothing to do with someone’s sexuality or sexual orientation.

*Stats from Rape Crisis England & Wales

More rape and sexual assault statistics

Find more statistics on the Rape Crisis England & Wales website.

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