Myth:

Domestic Violence is rare.

Fact: Domestic violence affects 1 out of 4 women at some point during her lifetime. Men can also be victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence happens equally in heterosexual and homosexual relationships.

Myth:

The victim must have done something to cause the abuse.

Fact: No one asks or deserves to be abused. Violent behavior is a choice made by the abuser.

Myth:

Victims of abuse are mostly uneducated, poor women.

Fact: Abuse can occur to anyone regardless of age, gender, race, religion, socio-economic status, or sexual orientation.

Myth:

Persons who abuse others are very mean and "skid row" types.

Fact: Abusers come from all walks of life regardless of age, gender, race, religion, socio-economic status, or sexual orientation. Abusers are not always abusive. In fact, they can be very generous with their affections.

Myth:

Abusers are out of control.

Fact: The actions of abusers are very deliberate. They use violence to gain and maintain power and control.

Myth:

Victims must like to be abused or they would leave the relationship.

Fact: Victims do not like to be abused. There are many reasons why a person may remain in an abusive relationship, including: fear, love, money, children, and religion. On average, a woman leaves an abusive relationship 7 times before ending the relationship.

Myth:

Alcohol and drug abuse can cause domestic violence.

Fact: Substance abuse may be a factor in an abusive relationship, but not the underlying cause. Sometimes, the abuser may attempt to use substance abuse as an excuse for violent behavior.
Domestic violence and substance abuse are two separate issues and need to be addressed as such.

Myth:

Sexual assault is a crime of passion and lust.

Fact: Sexual assault is a crime of violence. Assailants seek to dominate, humiliate, and punish their victims.

Myth:

Women often falsely report sexual assault.

Fact: The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that less than 2% of all sexual assault reports are false.
This is the same rate of false reporting as for all other major crimes.

Myth:

People close to a child should know that sexual abuse is happening.

Fact: Sexual assault occurs because the offender works hard to keep it a secret. His grooming of a child extends to others in the child's network to ensure that people don't suspect the abuse.

Myth:

If children stay away from strangers, they will not be sexually abused.

Fact: National statistics indicate that in approximately 85% of the cases, the offender is known to the
victim. He/she is usually a relative, family member, family friend, baby-sitter or older friend of the child.

Myth:

A person who has been drinking alcohol, using drugs or dancing seductively is asking to be raped.

Fact: No one ever asks to be raped. For sex to be legal, both parties must be of age and consenting. Both parties must be able to mentally, emotionally, physically, and verbally choose to engage in sexual activity. Vulnerable behaviors do not excuse the criminal behaviors of another person. The sexual appearance and/or seductive behaviors of a person DO NOT equal consent.

Myth:

Rape happens in dark alleys by strange men who jump out of the bushes.

Fact: Although some rapes do happen in dark, secluded areas, the majority of rapes happen in and around your home. Statistics also show that "stranger rapes" are few in number. It is much more likely that you will know your assailant and they will be of the same racial background.

Myth:

Only women can be raped.

Fact: Men can also be victims of rape. Men have been victimized by individual male assailants, gang raped by a group of male assailants, or in rare instances, by a woman.