Rape Myths
How Assumptions can lead to False Belief, and the Importance of Truth
Rape is a serious issue in today's overtly sexualized society. Bare skin seems to be everywhere, no matter what the season: music, art, television shows, advertisements, etc. And this sexualization happens in all areas of society, and contains all ethnicities and both genders. Nobody is spared, and though we are all exposed to the same images, we often assume certain things that are not true. As human being, we tend to do that a lot. It is, for this reason, very probable that this is how the rape myth came about. This paper will discuss what a rape myth is and describe the various kinds that exist, while at the same time pondering how knowing about this issue can change one's perceptions.
Rape myths are beliefs that diminish the violent nature of the rape act and undermine the harm suffered by the victim, while sometimes even blaming the victim for what happened....
There are many rape myths, and they all show evidence of societal ignorance. Some of the most important rape myths that ought to be discussed and replaced by truth are described below.
Sexual assault is impulsive and uncontrollable. This myth is completely untrue, as rape is an act of violence, and due to the fact that most rapes are planned.
Rape only happens in big cities. This is again, false, as rapes can happen anywhere, at any time.
The third myth is that women are sexually assaulted only if they are alone at night and almost always by a stranger. This, again, is untrue because most women are actually assaulted by someone they know, and this can happen in one's own house.
Another myth is the most rape involves a black man raping a white woman. This is not only untrue, but incredibly racist. Rapes can happen to anyone, regardless of gender or ethnicity.
Perhaps the most ridiculous myth is…
