FACTS & MYTHS - Pg. 3
STRANGER DANGER
Get aquainted with the facts about rape
Myths (Part 2)
“Women are mostly raped by people they don’t know.”
- Nicky Tiffin, 18, from London
One of the most pervasive myths in rape cases is the belief that most women are raped by people they don’t know. This is the so-called “Stranger Danger” myth.
The vast majority of reported cases of rape are lodged against an acquaintance (33%), partner or ex-partner (19%), someone the victim has known for less than 24hrs (11%) or a family member (10%).
Reported numbers of rapes by strangers total 28% however, the common belief is that rapes by intimates (partners or ex-partners) are still massively under-reported.
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“I think the main motive behind rape is to satisfy some sort of sexual desire.”
- Alexandr Makharinsky, 27, from London
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Louise Rogers, Rape Crisis |
Most authority voices believe that this is a misconception.
As Louise Rogers explains:
“Rape is not about sex; rape is about power and the sex is a weapon.”
Indeed, in many countries in Europe, rape is classified, in law, under degrees of violent assault rather than having its own "sexual" sub-section.
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