There is a common misperception that rape and sexual assault are uncommon and extraordinary crimes. In fact, they are quite common. Some statistics estimate that 1 in 6 women will be the victim of a sexual assault within her lifetime; others estimate that the rate is actually 1 in 4. This does not even address the fact that some women will be victims of more than one rape or sexual assault.
How can we correct this misperception? By describing rape and sexual assault allegations as rape and sexual assault allegations, in every case.
There is a common misperception that being in a relationship, flirting, or having slept with someone in the past gives “implied consent,” and that “rape” is usually committed by a stranger. This is incorrect. And has had severe consequences, historically: Spousal rape was once considered literally impossible, due to the “implied consent” given by marrying someone, which is why it did not become a recognized crime in all 50 states until the 1990s. Nevertheless, most rapes are committed by the victim’s acquaintance, friend, boyfriend, or spouse.
How can we correct this misperception? By describing rape and sexual assault allegations as rape and sexual assault allegations, in every case, and by not using the plaintiff’s prior relationship with the defendant as evidence against her claims.
There is a common misperception that women frequently press false rape charges. This is incorrect. Statistics vary, but the FBI estimates that “unfounded” rape claims consistently comprise about 8% of all total rape claims. That would be a 92% rate of “founded” rape claims, though Lord knows I myself have gotten in trouble for saying this in the past. There are studies which place the rate of false rape claims as much lower than this, around 2%. The only study I can find which places them higher than this has been widely cited as irresponsible in its methods and therefore unreliable. To be generous, and because this comes from the FBI, let’s go with the happy medium, the highest number coming from a responsible or reliable study, which is — again — only 8%. Which is still a very low number. No-one is saying that false rape claims don’t happen; however, any responsible or informed person should be willing to acknowledge that they are very rare.
How can we correct this misperception? By informing our readers of the alarmingly high rates of rape in our society — much easier if we follow the guidelines above, especially the ones about calling rape and sexual assault allegations what they are, which is rape and sexual assault allegations — and by being open and informative in regard to the fact that, although false rape claims exist, they are very rare.
There is a common misperception that we do not have to take rape and sexual assault seriously. This is probably because we fail to treat it as a serious crime when writing or speaking about it (finding various ways to euphemize or cover up for rape and sexual assault allegations, for example), act as if an assault cannot “really” be rape if the plaintiff and defendant had a prior sexual relationship, openly look for ways to discredit the people who press rape charges, spread the lie that women frequently press false rape charges, underestimate the rate of rape, and perpetuate a lack of clarity in regards to what does and does not comprise sexual assault. In fact, rape and sexual assault are the only violent crimes which happen disproportionately to women; women comprise 90% of survivors. Rape and sexual assault happen to many women — 1 in 6 to 1 in 4, not taking into account the fact that one woman may be raped or sexually assaulted by more than one assailant within her lifetime. Rape and sexual assault are extremely hard to push through the criminal justice system, and many women fear reporting the crimes against them, due to the harsh social penalties for doing so — only about 1 in 16 rapists will ever serve time — and most rapists are repeat rapists, meaning that the violent crime which affects as much as a quarter of all women is, functionally, allowed to continue. If you take women seriously, you take rape seriously. There is no getting around that. Dismissing rape is dismissing women.
How do we correct this misperception? Seriously. Be an adult about this. Treat the plaintiffs with respect. And call it what it is.
This.
