This myth is very damaging. Men can be raped, and are raped. 1-in-6 men have experienced sexual harm or abuse in their lifetime, before the age of 16.

Some people even still believe that if a man is sexually harmed he must be gay. This is of course not the case. Sexual harm has nothing to do with sexual orientation. It has nothing to do with sexual desire, and everything to do with power and control.

The vast majority of perpetrators of sexual violence are men, but women can and do commit sexual offences. However, because the law defines rape as non-consensual penetration with a penis, women can not legally be charged with rape. But they can be charged with sexual assault, which is just as serious.

The myth that women cannot be perpetrators prevents these individuals from being held accountable, and silences their victims, leaving them even less likely to disclose than victims of male perpetrators.

Only 2-3% of sexual harm allegations are false. This widely-believed myth is one of the biggest barriers to disclosure and reporting that survivors face.

There is a perception in our society that false allegations are very common, due to sensationalised media reporting. What many fail to consider is the ordeal that survivors go through when reporting.

Making an allegation of sexual harm is not something that is done lightly or without consequence for the victim. Survivors can face abuse, disbelief, and sometimes rejection from their loved ones when they make an allegation. When reporting to the police or In a court setting, survivors must recount intimate details, which are then made public in an attempt to discredit them.

This widely-believed myth is one of the biggest barriers to disclosure and reporting that survivors face. In the most recent Crime Survey for England and Wales, it was found that less than 1-in-5 victims of sexual harm by penetration reported the crime to police. 25% said they did not report it because they thought the police would not believe them. This myth is incredibly damaging for survivors, and needs to be challenged at every possible opportunity, so all survivors can access justice and support.

This harmful myth is as offensive as it is untrue, and can sometimes be used to try and justify or explain the behaviour of perpetrators. The majority of survivors never go on to abuse.

Myths like this affect survivors in many aspects of their lives, especially parenthood.

The vast majority of child abuse survivors will never perpetrate sexual abuse, and are utterly appalled by the insinuation that they are capable of such an act.

Our bodies react to stimuli: Someone who is ticklish may laugh when they are tickled but that does not mean they enjoyed it.

Physiological reactions to rape or sexual abuse work in the same way as this.

Physiological reactions (erection or orgasm) result from physical contact, and sometimes even from extreme stress. When someone is attacked they can enter ‘hyperarousal’ mode, another term for the ‘fight of flight’ reaction.

Physiological reactions can be a by-product of the ‘fight or flight’ mechanism our body uses to keep us alive, and do not reflect a victim’s actual emotional response to the attack or indicate consent in any way.

It is very common to hear about the 'flight or fight' response to danger. However, during an assault, many people experience immobility or a 'freeze' response. The 'freeze' response is identified in more than 1/3 of adult victims and in half of childhood sexual abuse victims.

When we are in danger, part of our brain (the amygdala) responds instinctively to ensure survival. This part of our brain is only concerned with immediate protection, not the later effect of this response (which for many can cause post-traumatic stress disorder).

If an individual reacts by shouting or screaming, they are likely to increase the likelihood of severe injury or death. This is why a lot of victims will subconsciously react with passive defense. Freeze is projected so the perpetrator will back off. If this fails, a victim may move immediately to ‘flop’ in their response- muscular tension will drain away. The less tension in our muscles, the less likely we are to sustain physical injury. At this point, victims may become very dissociative. If no physical escape is possible they internally escape, which is also a useful survival mechanism.

If you reacted this way during an assault, know that it was not your fault. You had no control over how your brain reacted to the danger you were in. You did not want to be raped or sexually abused.

It’s very rare that the perpetrator is a stranger to the victim - only 9% of cases. In fact, in 90% of cases the victim is known to their offender.

The most serious and repeated offences are more likely to be committed by someone known to the victim. For girls and young women this is most commonly a family member. For boys it is most commonly young women and authority figures who are known to them.

Anyone can be a offender. Offenders can be any race, ethnicity or age, and come from any economic background or social group. Sexual abuse is about control and power, and can be just one of many tools used to dominate a victim.

Some people assume that sexual harm can not happen within a relationship because consensual sex has already occurred. This is not the case. Consent must be provided EVERY time sexual activity starts, and can be withdrawn at any point. It is not your duty or responsibility to sexually satisfy your partner, and you should never be forced into this.