Analysis of Rape Myths: Development, Sustenance, and Societal Impact

This essay delves into the complex topic of rape myths, exploring their development and perpetuation within society. It examines various types of rape myths, including date rape, gang rape, child rape, and spousal rape, and analyzes how societal beliefs and attitudes contribute to their sustenance. The essay critically evaluates the impact of these myths on both victims and the criminal justice system, highlighting how biased perceptions and lack of evidence can influence juror decisions and prejudice outcomes. The discussion covers the ways in which society often blames victims, discounts their experiences, and influences the handling of cases. The paper also looks at the consequences of these myths, including the ways they can affect the legal process, and the challenges victims face when seeking justice. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and challenging these myths to create a fairer and more supportive environment for survivors of sexual assault.

Discuss how rape myths develop and are sustained
in society and critically evaluate the impact this

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1. Types of Rape Myths..............................................................................................................1
2. Ways of sustaining by the Society 2
3. Impact on victim and criminal justice system.........................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Rape cases or myths are categorised under those topics which people do not feel free to
discuss with each other. There is some hesitation being found in the victims due to several
factors which keep revolving in their mind. Rape can be defined as a phenomenon in which the
person with opposite sex is engaged in sexual penetration or intercourse without the consent of
others. People are sexually assaulted, violated and harassed. It has been assessed that in England
and Wales, there are approximately 12000 men and 85000 women being assaulted every year
which means early half a million adults are getting trapped under the following act (Reece,
2013). Recent statistics also reveal that the services provided by rape care centres have evaluated
that 95% of women get assaulted in the period of 2015-16 wherein it responded to 171000
victims. The main intention of the present study is to identify the cause of rape myths and also,
to determine the impact of such cases on victim and criminal.
1. Types of Rape Myths
There are several kinds of rape myths being analysed in the society. These are the kinds
of sexual acts or offence being committed by the victim. Some of the most prominent types of
rape cases being analysed in the UK society has been elaborated hereunder: Date Rape: Such kind of act is categorized under the non-domestic cases wherein
criminal knows the victim. It is a sort of sexual drug act wherein the sufferer is being
provided with the medicine or drug through which it can be incapacitated (Carr and et.al.,
2014). Once the victim gets asleep, it becomes easy for criminal to commit the offence. Gang Rape: These kinds of cases are highly found amongst youngsters especially that are
unemployed. Herein, mainly a group of people are involved in committing the offence. A
single or two people are attacked by the gang taking the advantage of situation. These are
highly experienced during the night and when the criminals are drunken. Several cases in
London were also depicted wherein the felonious also made use of weapons so as to rape
the individual (Krahé, 2016). Child Rape: It is a sort of child sexual abuse wherein the children are sexually assaulted
by the known person. These are the family members of the child. A person who has
stronger power and personality is usually involved in committing such crime. Such kinds
of rape myths are highly dangerous which can further lead the child into physiological
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and long-term trauma. In the case when the child does not have family members, the
caregivers, teachers and adolescent members of the family are involved in committing a
crime.
 Spousal rape: Several types of research predict that rape is most likely to experience in
the case of the stranger. However, it is not true as any sexual act committed without the
prior permission or consent of the person shall be deemed under the head. When a sexual
offence or action is conducted between a husband and wife, intimate partner sex
harassment shall also be classified as a rape myth (Dinos and et.al., 2015).
Furthermore, there are several myths or belief of people about the rape cases being
pursued in the country. The society is highly conservative and has different viewpoints on every
act. Some of the rape myths or beliefs have been enumerated underneath:
 A vast number of women are responsible for inciting men to commit rape. Numerous
people have the saying that rape cannot be committed without the significant contribution
of females (Turchik and Edwards, 2012). Physical attraction and opportunity are the two
major demeanour which induces young people especially men to commit rape.
 Another belief or fact about the rape is that support from family is an essential factor or
component for the rapist. Blaming a victim for the actions which has not been committed
by itself is a major loophole which may lead it to trauma or mental disability.
 Furthermore, there is also a right way to deal with every situation. Rape is a life-
threatening phenomenon or experience which may cause havoc to one's life (Shaw and
et.al., 2016). However, the victim must follow his own instinct and identify the cues of a
rapist. If the sufferer has survived then, it is the best thing ever.
 An another very common type of rape myth includes that sexual offence is mainly done
by males. However, it is totally untrue because these kinds of acts can be done by
anyone. In addition to the above, putting litigation on any person on the basis of their
gender, size, colour, caste creed is not true.
 The society believes that rape requires a weapon which has been criticized by Massaro,
(2015). The following rape myth is false as the past researches demonstrate that sexual
assault can also be made without the use of any sort of weapon.
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2. Ways of sustaining by the society
In the past years, rape cases in the UK have been witnessed in a vast number. There are
numerous factors which lead to causing of such cases in the society as already discussed above.
However, community and diverse people from the same have different perceptions towards the
following cases. Some are engaged in blaming the victim due to lack of judgement while on the
other hand, people oppose criminal for committing the offence. Some of the most common ways
in which community sustain the rape myths have been enumerated underneath:
Some people have the habit of boycotting the victim from their society. Rape is
considered as a myth, and the person or victim which has been engaged in the following crime
has no space in the society (Agustina, 2015). Furthermore, the society has a habit of making
dupe feel guilty about the past situation or act that has persisted with the person. It has been
analysed from the past researches that people have their own perception, and they keep on
criticising the suffered person. However, Das, (2012), asserts that with the increasing knowledge
and understanding of people towards the rape myths they usually support the victim through
taking varied actions in form of candle march, strikes, etc. There are certain rape myths that
have been prevailing in the society. One amongst them is that people have the perception that
women incite males to have sex. However, the above statement is entirely incorrect as a female
cannot invite a man to rape herself. A rapist just needs a pure opportunity which can be used so
as to commit the offence. The society is highly in-conceptualized on the fact that women are
responsible for inducing men (Fox, Bailenson and Tricase, 2013). The above rape myth is highly
accepted by most of the people in society which cause the rapist to escape from an offence that
he has committed and transfer the entire blame on victim.
The current community is brutal and supports criminal in undertaking more crime. There
are other rape myths which have been enumerated above. There is one of the most important
rape myths which cause the society to accept such myths (Anderson, 2007). People consider that
several elements such as drugs, alcohol and other lubricants are the main reason behind rape
cases. However the author asserts that the above statement is untrue as the rapist alone is
responsible for an offence committed by him. The facts reveal that people are mostly in their
senses even when they are dunked. It is just a means or way in which the society sustains
following cases and allows criminal to escape from the crime affianced by him.
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The society highly functions on assumptions which are basically wrong. The way this
society sustains the above-enlisted rape myths is totally incorrect. Turning rape cases in the form
of phrases that are literally assumptions is inhumane (Powell and et.al., 2013). For instance, It
has been analysed that rapist usually states in their defence that if the girl can get intimated with
me once, that means she can have sex with me again. The society has the habit of getting agreed
on the facts and statements laid by the criminal in his defence. However, they do not understand
that there is a wide difference between getting being kissed and raped. By the English Law, no
man or person has the right to get physical or touch the other person without his or her consent.
Furthermore, such cases cause society to impose restrictions on the movement of women
or females. They are not allowed to move freely in their own society or country. In the
patriarchal community, people especially women get judged by their dresses, life style and many
other factors. If a women talks and hangout with his male friends, then she is categorised under
several heads. Moreover, there are numerous other factors which lead the society to make
diverse assumptions and provoke the felon to perpetrate more crime.
3. Impact on victim and criminal justice system
As enclosed above, rape myths are the assumptions made by society on certain criteria.
These are just the myths that differ from the facts. The amount of rape cases that has been
witnessed in the year 2011-12 was approximately 62.5%. However, this ratio or percentage is
lower than that of rate cases been taken to court in the year 2007-08 which was about 83.5%
(Horvath and Brown, 2013). Therefore, it can be stated that criminal offence is decreasing day-
by-day.
It has been assessed that the rape myths prevailing in UK as well as in the entire world
has a significant impact on criminal justice system. Due to lack of evidence and the physical
object being present in such cases, juror needs to rely on the statements provided by victim and
criminal. The verdict regarding innocence or guilt is being made on these statements. Lack of
evidence also causes jurisdiction to make a tough judgement by relying on the stories of one of
the parties (Dinos and et.al., 2015). However, these decisions or judgements are highly
influenced by the personal and biased attitude of the juror. Even after witnessing several cases,
judgement of jurisdiction is highly influenced by the belief, myths and expectations along with
demographics and attitudes of society that may cause harm or danger to the life of innocent.
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Moreover, it has been analysed that the final verdict of juror is entirely dependent on the
victim’s clothing, life style, character, attitudes, etc. The past records reveal that decision laid by
the court on rape cases were entirely prejudice. Clothing habit of women in the form of short
dresses and other factors has caused the juror to held victim responsible for doing an act of rape
(Wood and Gannon, 2013). Therefore, it can be stated that female victims have highly been
criticised by the society for their clothing and behaviour which further influences the opinions
and decisions of criminal justice system.
In addition to the above, author states that in case of any rape case that has been imposed
against a female, the verdict of jurisdiction is highly influenced by lot of factors. For instance,
when a male has been raped by a person of opposite sex then the society as well as the criminal
justice does not rely on his story. The major reason behind it is the myth that has being spread
which states that female cannot commit rape as it involves physical power and force.
Another such rape myth that is likely to affect the decision of the juror, is that no sexual
assault can take place without any sort of weapon (Bryden and Lengnick, 2016). At time of
verdict and ace proceedings the victim is being asked varied kinds of personal questions in form
of any equipments or weapon has being used at the times of sex. These situations is likely to
arise because of the rape myths spread in the society thereby influencing the criminal justice
system.
However, the rape myths and assumptions also have an imperative impact on victim.
Rape is not by choice, however, it is a sexual assault which is done without prior consent or
permission of the victim. These may lead the dupe into a mental trauma which may further
destruct the victim’s life. Putting allegations and blame is an easy task by the society but passing
through the respective act takes a lot of courage by the sufferer. Furthermore, assumptions and
myths that have been laid by society is dangerous to the life of victim.
In the current society rape, victim are being criticised for offence which has not been
committed by her. Further, it becomes difficult for the innocent to face the society. All the
thoughts and myths got clustered in the mind of dupe which may be disruptive to her life. In
addition to the above, these may cause the sufferer to suicide and lose her life. Rape itself is the
traumatic experience for the victim (Massaro, 2015). However, aftermath of the sexual offence is
worse. The dupe may get into several sorts of dilemma like whether to inform the police about
offence or not. Numerous questions and thoughts passed through the head of victim which takes
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into mental disorder and complete trauma. Furthermore, other causes of being raped involve
possible pregnancy, getting embarrassed, being blamed, etc. These are some of the major reasons
which lead to 60-68% of cases not being brought to court (Bryden and Lengnick, 2016).
Moreover, the sceptical behaviour of police may be harmful or dangerous to the life of
victim. Numerous questions have being roused by these officers. It becomes difficult for the
sufferer to stay with guilt or offence but it get more awkward when the society talks behind her
back which further kills the person from inside. The questions that are raised on her character,
lifestyle and attitude as well as dressing habit are more dangerous which cause fear in the minds
of a victim. Additionally, the anxiety of not getting believed by the friends and family may
destroy the person. Furthermore, the prejudice decision that is being made by the jurors and
community may cause the innocent to stay up with guilt or offence which has not being sworn by
it. All these facts and thoughts get clumped which further leads to destroy the life of victim as it
becomes difficult for the sufferer to stay up with allegations imposed on her by the society (Das,
2012).
CONCLUSION
The overwhelming summary of above study presents that rape myths and assumptions
have a high impact on the verdicts being made by the juror. It also highlights several kinds of
rape myths and its impact on the victim. Along with that, manner in which the society sustains
that rape myths have also been clearly enumerated in the above report. Furthermore, it can be
stated that only the person with stereotypical attitude reports to the rape cases more strictly.
However, major limitation of present research was that it fails to identify the measures to reduce
rape cases and criminal offence from the society along with the amount of evidence that needs to
be presented in the court while criminal trials.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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Disinhibition Effect. International Journal of Cyber Criminology. 9(1). 35.
Anderson, I. (2007). What is a typical rape? Effects of victim and participant gender in female
and male rape perception. British Journal of Social Psychology. 46. 225-245.
doi:10.1348/014466606X101780
Carr, M. & et.al. (2014). Debunking three rape myths.Journal of forensic nursing. 10(4). 217-
225.
Dinos, S. & et.al. (2015). A systematic review of juries' assessment of rape victims: Do rape
myths impact on juror decision-making?. International Journal of Law, Crime and
Justice. 43(1). 36-49.
Dinos, S. & et.al. (2015). A systematic review of juries' assessment of rape victims: Do rape
myths impact on juror decision-making?. International Journal of Law, Crime and
Justice. 43(1). 36-49.
Fox, J., Bailenson, J. N., & Tricase, L. (2013). The embodiment of sexualized virtual selves: The
Proteus effect and experiences of self-objectification via avatars. Computers in Human
Behavior. 29(3). 930-938.
Horvath, M., & Brown, J. (Eds.). (2013). Rape: Challenging contemporary thinking. Routledge.
Krahé, B. (2016). Societal Responses to Sexual Violence Against Women: Rape Myths and the
“Real Rape” Stereotype. In Women and Children as Victims and Offenders: Background,
Prevention, Reintegration (pp. 671-700). Springer International Publishing.
Massaro, T. M. (2015). Experts, psychology, credibility, and rape: The rape trauma syndrome
issue and its implications for expert psychological testimony. Psychology, Credibility,
and Rape: The Rape Trauma Syndrome Issue and Its Implications for Expert
Psychological Testimony (March 23, 2015). 69.
Powell, A. & et.al. (2013). Meanings of ‘Sex’and ‘Consent’ The Persistence of Rape Myths in
Victorian Rape Law.Griffith Law Review. 22(2). 456-480.
Reece, H. (2013). Rape myths: Is elite opinion right and popular opinion wrong?. Oxford journal
of legal studies, gqt006.
Shaw, J. & et.al. (2016). Beyond Surveys and Scales: How Rape Myths Manifest in Sexual
Assault Police Records.
Turchik, J. A., & Edwards, K. M. (2012). Myths about male rape: a literature review. Psychology
of Men & Masculinity. 13(2). 211.
Wood, J., & Gannon, T. A. (Eds.). (2013). Public Opinion and Criminal Justice: Context,
Practice and Values. Routledge.
Online
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Bryden, D. P. and Lengnick, S., 2016. Rape in Criminal Justice System. [PDF]. Available
through: <http://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=6934&context=jclc>. [Accessed on 2nd January, 2017].
Das, L., 2012. The Effects of rape on the victim and community. [Online]. Available through:
<https://thecaribbeancurrent.com/the-effects-of-rape-on-the-victim-and-the-community/
>. [Accessed on 2nd January, 2017].
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