I can't have been raped, I didn’t scream or fight
Freezing and being unable to react is a very normal response to fear. Your body does this as a way of helping you survive the situation. Many people find they can’t respond or move during a sexual assault. This does not mean you are consenting.
Men can’t be raped
Rape and sexual abuse has no boundaries. It can affect any age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, status or ethnicity. Men are just as vulnerable to rape and sexual abuse as any other demographic, and statistics show that in England and Wales, one in 20 men have experienced rape or sexual assault as an adult.
It's not rape if it's with your wife, husband or long-term partner
Rape and sexual abuse can occur in all relationships. This can include within a marriage, with a long term partner, on a one night stand or a casual encounter. If you have had sexual activity that you haven’t consented to, then you may have been raped.
Rape and sexual assaults and are carried out by strangers
Stranger rapes are very uncommon, and the fact is that most people are raped by people they know. Research conducted in 2018 found that over 90% of people knew their attacker, and statistics from Rape Crisis show that one in three adults are raped in their own homes.
Men who are sexually assaulted must be gay
Rape is an act of power and control. The rapist is exerting power over the victim, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender. Absolutely anyone can be raped, sexually assaulted, or sexually abused, including men and boys of all sexual orientations.
Wearing revealing clothes, flirting or being drunk is asking for it
People have the right to wear what they like. Flirting or being friendly is not an indication that you are consenting to sex. This type of thought process is what's sometimes referred to as rape culture, where sexual violence and abuse is normalised, played down or laughed off. The blame always has to lie with rapists, not victims.
People play hard to get. When they say no they mean yes
Everyone should be listened to when it comes to sex. Partners have the right to change their mind at any point and it’s not up to someone else to decide what that person wants. No always means no, and you should always listen to and respect your sexual partner.
