Common myth that perpetuate the rape culture Common Myths that Perpetuate the Rape Culture Rape myths are prejudicial, stereotyped, or false beliefs about rape, rape victims, or rapists. Rape myths have the effect of denying that many instances involving coercive sex acts are actually rapes. To understand how a rape myth works, one must understand the legal definition of rape and then ask why many people are still not willing to identify an assault situation even when faced with a sexual assault that fits the legal definition of rape.
Rape myths are part of the general culture.
People learn them in the same way they acquire other attitudes and beliefs - from their families, their friends, newspapers, movies, books, dirty jokes, and lately, music videos. The culture reinforces the behavior, and the behavior re-informs the culture and becomes the reality. To break this continuing cycle of beliefs, we must unlearn false beliefs that perpetuate the rape culture. The followings are examples of false statements, yet they are often concepts believed to be true. Most sexual assault involves strangers attacking women.