Myths

“There are no bruises or marks”

There are no bruises or marks.

Sexual violence does not have to leave a person with visible injuries

“A weapon wasn’t used”

A weapon wasn’t used

It does not have to involve other physical violence or weapons

They didn’t scream or try to get away

If the victim or survivor didn’t scream, try to run away or fight then that doesn’t mean it wasn’t sexual violence.

It’s really common for people who experience sexual violence to find themselves unable to move or speak

Rapists are always strangers

Sexual violence can be perpetrated by a stranger but it is very often perpetrated by someone that the person knows or even trusts.

For example, a friend, colleague, family member, partner or ex-partner

They seemed like they were enjoying it

Orgasming or experiencing feelings of arousal during sexual violence doesn’t mean it wasn’t sexual violence

Asking for it?

A victim or survivor of sexual violence was never ‘asking for it’.

It doesn’t matter what they were wearing or what consensual sexual activity or other interaction happened before the sexual violence