Practically everyone has been abuzz with the news that came out of California this week. A Stanford University athlete who was convicted of rape received a six-month sentence for his crimes. The internet lit up, so to speak, with outrage over the seemingly light punishment. The rapist’s father wrote a letter to the judge pleading for leniency in sentencing, which only added fuel to the debate. This is not the forum to discuss that one event, but it does open the door to many more questions about rape culture and sexual violence against women, men and children. There are many myths about sexual crimes that often get in the way of making real change.
Understanding What Rape Is
Many people, even today, mistakenly confuse rape with sex. While it’s true that rape is a crime associated with sexual gratification, it is a crime of violence. Until 2013, rape was defined by the FBI as “the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will.” On January 1, 2013, the definition was changed to “penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.” Still, the myths about rape as a crime of passion or a “spur of the moment” event occur. The fact is that many rapes are carefully planned. Some experts estimate that 70 percent or more of victims actually know their rapist.
Two myths about rape assume that only women or gay men can be raped and that rapists prefer “certain kinds of people.” Again, the reality is much different. In Orange County, the Rape Crisis Center works with victims as young as babies up to adults who are in their 90s. Rapists look for individuals who appear vulnerable, without consideration for physical appearance, age, race, gender, social status or dress. Rapes occur just about anywhere, not just in dark alleys or at night. In one report out of Orange County, about 44 percent of the rapes reported were in the victim’s home.
How Victims End Up Being Blamed
Many movies and television programs reflect the idea that false reports of rape are extremely common. It’s one of the main themes in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” but according to the FBI, only about 2 percent of rape reports turn out to be false. For comparison, it’s also the same rate of false reports for other felonies. False reports of rape are very uncommon.
Victims of rape often end up being blamed, even when people try very hard to be objective. Questions are asked about how the victim was dressed or whether the victim was drunk or on drugs. In some cases, it might be asked if the survivor smiled at the assailant or fought back. If someone didn’t fight back, does that meant they weren’t raped? When someone is being robbed, they’re told to give up their belongings to survive. To survive a violent attack, you may not be able to fight back.
Violent crimes have been a part of society since the dawn of time. Children today need to understand consent, but there will always be criminals who commit crimes against the most vulnerable of our population. Rape victims need support and empathy, but they often face doubt and suspicion. If the individual did not give consent, rape has occurred. Recovery is possible from rape, but it does take time to return to normal functioning. Positive support from family and friends goes a long way toward the process, but negative behaviors about the crime make recovery even more difficult. Know the truth about rape if you have a friend who is going through healing, because your support can help speed recovery.