Tillamook County Women's Resource Center

There are many myths surrounding sexual assault. A few of the common myths include:

• Myth: Sexual assaults happen on dark streets and alleyways.
• Fact: The vast majority of assaults occur in either the victim's or the perpetrator's house.

• Myth: Most sexual assault involve strangers.
• Fact: Most sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim.

• Myth: "No" sometimes means "Yes."
• Fact: "No" always means "No." In fact, the only way to know for sure that someone is consenting is to ask them.

• Myth: A person can avoid sexual assault if she or he really want to.
• Fact: The only way a person can "avoid" sexual assault is to never come into contact with other people.

• Myth: After paying for dinner, entertainment and drinks a date deserves something in return.
• Fact: All anyone deserves following an expensive date is a "thank you." If money is a concern, discuss sharing expenses.

• Myth: Sexual assault only happens to a few people.
• Fact: Sexual assault can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, class, age or any other factor.

• Myth: If someone dresses and acts provocatively, she or he is asking to be raped.
• Fact: How a person dresses or acts is not indicative of an interest in having sex.

• Myth: If someone was drunk, then he or she deserved to be raped.
• Fact: No one deserves to be raped, whether drinking or not.

• Myth: If you have had sex before, then you owe it to the other person to have sex again.
• Fact: It doesn't matter if you have had sex once or many times with a person in the past. Each time is a personal choice. If someone forces a person to have sex against his or her will, it is rape.