Common Misconceptions

FACT: Sexual assault is a crime and never simply a mistake. It involves any unwanted sexual contact obtained without consent.

According to California's "Yes Means Yes" affirmative consent standard, consent must be an affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity. This means that consent must be explicit and cannot be obtained through force, threat, intimidation, or coercion. It is never okay to pressure someone into sexual activity. Consent must be clear and mutual and silence does not equal consent. It is the initiator's responsibility to obtain clear consent at every level of sexual activity.

FACT: Sexual assault is never the survivor’s fault. It is a violent attack on an individual. No one "asks" to be assaulted based on their behavior or clothing.

FACT: Most sexual assaults are committed by someone the survivor knows, such as a neighbor, friend, acquaintance, co-worker, classmate, spouse, partner, or ex-partner. About 80% of women reporting sexual assaults knew their assailant.

Sexual offenders come from all backgrounds and are often “ordinary” individuals who assault to assert power and control over their victims.

FACT: This "assumption of risk" wrongfully places the responsibility on the survivor instead of the offender. Going to someone's home, room, or a bar does not imply consent for sexual activity.

According to California's "Yes Means Yes" affirmative consent standard, consent must be an affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity. This means that consent must be explicit and cannot be obtained through force, threat, intimidation, or coercion. It is never okay to pressure someone into sexual activity. Consent must be clear and mutual and silence does not equal consent. It is the initiator's responsibility to obtain clear consent at every level of sexual activity.

FACT: Sexual assault can happen anywhere and at any time. The majority of assaults occur in places thought to be safe, such as homes, cars, and offices.

FACT: Men can and are sexually assaulted. Male sexual assault is significantly underreported.

FACT: Sexual assault is about power and control, not sexual gratification.

FACT: Being forced to have sex against one's will is sexual assault, regardless of whether the survivor fights back. Many survivors do not resist due to shock, fear, threats, or the attacker's strength.

Additionally, many survivors are not visibly injured. The threat of violence alone can compel submission, and reactions to trauma vary widely among individuals. Reactions to trauma vary, some survivors may laugh, cry, or show no emotions at all.

FACT: Alcohol and drugs are weapons used by perpetrators to control. Being under the influence does not cause assault; perpetrators choose to exploit vulnerability.

FACT: Orgasm can be a natural, uncontrollable biological reaction and does not indicate consent. This misconception is often used to silence survivors.

FACT: People with disabilities are twice as likely to be sexually assaulted as those without disabilities. Sex workers have the right to consent and can be assaulted like anyone else. LGBTQ individuals are not more likely to be sex offenders, and assault is not related to sexual orientation.

FACT: There are many services like counseling and advocacy that are free or low-cost to survivors. Survivors are encouraged to seek emotional care and support as well as medical attention. You are not alone, there are on-campus resources, local community resources, and national hotlines available to support you.

FACT: There are approximately 293,066 victims of rape and sexual assault each year in the U.S., equating to one assault every 107 seconds.

FACT: Prevention includes bystander intervention and creating safe environments.