PASSWORDMANAGEMENT
Myths and Facts
Common Myths and Facts about the Causes of Sexual Misconduct
Myth: Victims provoke Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault by the way they dress or act in
a promiscuous manner.
Fact: Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault is never the fault of the victum. Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault is an act of violence and
control that stems from a person鈥檚 determination to exercise power over another. Neither
the way a person dresses nor their previous sexaul behavior with anyone are invitations
for sexual activity. Engaging in sexual activity wth another person without that person's
Affirmative Consent is Sexual Assault, regardless of the way that person dresses or
acts.
Myth: If a person goes to a bar or back to someone鈥檚 room or house, they assume the risk
of Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault. If something happens later, they can鈥檛 claim
that they were raped or sexually assaulted because they should have known not to go
to those places.
Fact: This idea of an 鈥渁ssumption of risk鈥 wrongfully places the responsibility of the
offender鈥檚 action with the victim. Engaging in sexual activity with another person
without that person鈥檚 Affirmative Consent is Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault, regardless
of where it happens. Even if a person went voluntarily to someone鈥檚 home or room and
consented to engage in some sexual activity, this does not serve as Affirmative Consent
for all sexual activity. CSU policy defines Sexual Misconduct to include any sexual
activity without Affirmative Consent. Affirmative Consent means informed, affirmative,
voluntary, and mutual agreement to engage in sexual activity. Each person involved
is responsible to ensure that they have the Affirmative Consent of the other participant(s).
When in doubt if the person is comfortable with sexual activity, or a different form
of sexual activity, stop and ask.
Myth: It is not Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault if it happens after drinking or taking
drugs.
Fact: Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not an invitation for sexual activity.
A person under the influence does not cause others to assault them; others choose
to take advantage of the situation and sexually assault them because they are in a
vulnerable position. A person who is incapacitated due to the influence of alcohol or drugs is not able
to consent to sexual activity.
Myth: Most Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assaults are committed by strangers. It鈥檚 not rape
if the people involved know each other.
Fact: Most Sexual Assaults are committed by someone the victim knows. A Department of Justice
study found that eight out of ten rapes are committed by someone known to the victim.2
Most often, an intimate partner or former intimate partner, classmate, friend, acquaintance,
or co-worker sexually victimized the person
Myth: Rape can be avoided if women avoid dark alleys or other 鈥渄angerous鈥 places where
strangers might be hiding or lurking.
Fact: Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault can occur at any time, in many places, to anyone.
As noted in Myth 4 above, most Sexual Assaults are committed not by strangers, but
by someone known to the victim. The majority of Sexual Assaults occur at or near the
victim's home
Myth: A person who has really experienced Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault will be hysterical.
Fact: A person who has experienced Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault may exhibit a spectrum
of responses to the assault which can include: calm, hysteria, withdrawal, anxiety,
anger, apathy, denial, and shock. Being sexually assaulted is a very traumatic experience.
Reaction to the assault and the length of time needed to process through the experience
vary with each person. There is no 鈥渞ight way鈥 to react to being sexually assaulted.
Assumptions about the way a person 鈥渟hould act鈥 may be detrimental because each person
copes in different ways.
Myth: A person who has experienced Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault will report the crime
immediately to the police. If they do not report it or delay in reporting it, then
they must have changed their minds after it happened, wanted revenge, or didn鈥檛 want
to look like they were sexually active.
Fact: There are many reasons why a person may not report the assault to the police or campus
officials. It is not easy to talk about being sexually assaulted and can feel very
shameful. The experience of retelling what happened may cause the person to relive
the trauma. Another reason for delaying a report or not making a report is the fear
of retaliation by the offender. There is also the fear of being blamed, not being
believed, and being required to go through judicial proceedings. Just because a person
does not report the incident does not mean it did not happen.
Myth: Only heterosexual women are assaulted.
Fact: Sexual violence affects people of every gender identity and sexual orientation. While
women and girls experience sexual violence at high rates, men and boys also experience
sexual assault. Transgender and nonbinary individuals experience high rates of sexual
violence. It is important to remember that Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault can occur
in heterosexual and same-gender relationships. Assumptions about the 鈥渢ypical鈥 victim
might lead others not to report the assault because they do not fit the stereotypical
victim profile.
Myth: It鈥檚 only Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault if the victim puts up a fight and resists.
Fact: There are a number of reasons why a person who is sexually assaulted may not resist.
They may experience an involuntary response to what is happening that physically prevents
them from resisting or moving (sometimes called 鈥渢onic immobility鈥). A person may
also fear that if they resist, they will anger their attacker, resulting in more severe
injury. Many assault experts say that victims should trust their instincts and intuition
and do what they believe will most likely keep them alive. Not fighting or resisting
an attack does not equal consent.
Myth: Someone can only be sexually assaulted if a weapon was involved.
Fact: In many cases of Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Assault, a weapon is not involved. The
offender often uses physical strength, physical violence, intimidation, threats, or
a combination of these tactics to overpower the victim. Although the presence of a