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Domestic violence myths and facts, take the quiz .

Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service-- information, hotline, shelter, and crisis intervention.
The Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service offers a safe refuge and support to women and children who survive domestic and sexual violence. Our programs and services inform survivors of their options and support them in their choices. A cornerstone of our philosophy is respect for the survivor's rights including the right to decide whether to report to the police the crime or crimes committed against her. We work with survivors of any race, color, creed, religious belief, or sexual orientation.

sexual assault information and resources

Sexual assault myths and facts, take the quiz.

Sexual assault resources-- hotlines and telephone resources, web site resources and direct services,
web site resources for men
 

sexual assault resources


hotlines and telephone resources

RAINN hotline: 800.656.HOPE

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800.799.SAFE / 800.787.3224

National Sexually Transmitted Disease Hotline: 800.227.8922

Emergency Contraception Hotline: 800.NOT.2.LATE

Crisis Intervention Center Hotline: 800.999.9999

Child Help National Abuse Hotline: 800.422.4435

Youth Suicide, Trevor Talk Line: 800.850.8078

GMDVP (Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project): 800.832.1901

Teen Aids Line: 800.618.TEEN

Gay and Lesbian Youth Hotline: 800.850.8078

GLBT (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender) Sexual Assault: 800.616.HATE

website and direct services

RAINN website: http://www.rainn.org/

State by State Resources: www.feminist.org/911/

web site resources for men

The National Organization on Male Sexual Victimization: http://www.malesurvivor.org

A True Story of Incest: http://www.walterdemilly.com

The White Ribbon Campaign: http://www.whiteribbon.ca

University of Oregon Men’s Center: www.uoregon.edu/~counsel/uomc/resources.htm

Sexual Assault Quiz

1. what are the chances that a woman will be a victim of a sexual assault in her lifetime?
a) 1 in a 1000   b) 1 in a 100   c) 1 in 50   d) 1 in 3

2. where do the greatest number of rapes occur?
a) home/apartment   b) dark alley   c) park or beach   d) a car

3. the rape victim is selected because?
a) she is young/good looking   b) she dressed in a manner to provoke attack   c) she provoked the attack   d) she is all alone and/or vulnerable

4. how long does the average rape last?
a) 20 to 40 minutes   b) 40 to 60 minutes   c) 1 to 2 hrs   d) 2 to 4 hrs

5. what percentage of rapes are ever reported?
a) 10%   b) 50%   c) 75%   d) 90%

6. what percentage of the time do the victim and the rapist know each other?
a) 10%   b) 25%   c) 50%   d) 90%

7. the youngest rape victim reported was about:
a) 10 years old   b) 5 years old   c) 2 years old   d) 3 mths old

8. the oldest rape victim reported was about:
a) 75 yrs old   b) 85 yrs old   c) 95 yrs old   d) 100 yrs

9. what percentage of women complies with a rapist's demands even though no physical force is used (verbal threats only)?
a) 10%   b) 25%   c) 50%   d) 75%

10. what percentage of rapes occur in a dating situation?
a) 10%   b) 25%   c) 50%   d) 75%

Sexual Assault Quiz Answers

1. d, one in three
2. a, home and/or apartment
3. d, she is all alone / vunerabel
4. d, two to four hours
5. a, 10%
6. d, 90%
7. d, three months old
8. c, 95 years old
9. c, 50%
10. c, 50%
 

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Domestic Violence Quiz

State whether you think the statement is a myth or if you think it is a fact.  After taking the Quiz, check the correct answers below and read the FACTS!

1.  Domestic violence usually only happens in married adult couples.

2.  Boyfriends and girlfriends sometimes push each other around when they get angry, but it rarely results in anyone getting seriously hurt.

 3.  While females can be abusive and abuse happens in same-sex couples too, it is much more common for males to abuse their female partners.

4.  If a mother is abused by her children's father; the children are also likely to be abused.

5.  Most people will end a relationship if their boyfriend or girlfriend hits them.

6.  People abuse their partners because they can't control their anger.

7.  Most men who abuse their partners grew up in violent homes.

8.  If a person is really being abused, it's easy to just leave.

9.  Most rapes are committed by strangers who attack women at night on the streets.  

10.  A pregnant woman is at an even greater risk of physical abuse.

11.  Relationship abuse happens most often among Blacks and Hispanics.

12.  People who are abused often blame themselves for their abuse.

Quiz Answers

1. MYTH:  As many as one-third of all high school and college-age young people experience violence in an intimate or dating relationship.  (Levy, B., Dating Violence: Young Women in Danger, The Seal Press, Seattle, WA, 1990.)  Physical abuse is as common among high school and college-age couples as married couples.  (Jezel, Molidor, and Wright and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Teen Dating Violence Resource Manual, NCADV, Denver, CO, 1996.)

2. MYTH:  Domestic violence is the number one cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 - 44 in the U.S. -more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined.  (Uniform Crime Reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1991.) Of the women murdered each year in the U.S., 30% are killed by their current or former husband or boyfriend.  (Violence Against Women: Estimates from the Redesigned Survey, U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, August 1995.)

3. FACT:  About 95% of know victims of relationship violence are females abused by their male partners. (Straus, M.A., and Gelles, R.J. (eds), Physical Violence in American Families, Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, NJ. 1990.)

4. FACT:  50% of men who frequently abuse their wives also frequently abuse their children. (Stacy, W. and Schupe, A., The Family Secret, Beacon Press, Boston, MA, 1983.)  A child who lives in a family where there is violence between parents is 15 times more likely to be abused.  (L. Bergman, "Dating violence among high school students," Social Work 37 (1), 1992.)

5. MYTH:  Nearly 80% of girls who have been physically abused in their intimate relationships continue to date their abuser after the onset of violence.  (Uniform Crime Reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1991.)

6. MYTH:  People who abuse are usually not out of control.  They do it to gain power and control over the other person.  They often use a series of tactics besides violence including threats, intimidation, psychological abuse and isolation to control their partners.  (Straus, M.A., Gelles R.J. & Steinmetz, S., Behind Closed Doors, Anchor Books, NY, 1980.)

7. FACT:  Men who have witnessed violence between parents are three times more likely to abuse their own wives and children than children of non-violent parents.  The sons of the most violent parents are 1000 times more likely to become batterers.  (Barbara Hart, National Coalition against Domestic Violence, 1988

8. MYTH:  There are many very complicated reasons why it's difficult for a person to leave an abusive partner.  One very common reason is fear - women who leave abusers are at a 75% greater chance of being killed by the abuser than those who stay.  (U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics' National Crime Victimization Survey, 1995.)

9. MYTH:  About 80% of rapes and sexual assaults are committed by a partner, friend or acquaintance of the victim. (U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics' National Crime Victimization Survey, 1995.)

10. FACT:  Pregnant women are especially at risk for abuse.  It is estimated that more than one-third of pregnant women are abused.  (Berry, Dawn Bradley, The Domestic Violence Sourcebook, Lowell House, Los Angeles, 1996.) It is common for physical abuse to begin or escalate during pregnancy.

11. MYTH:  Women of all races are equally likely to be abused by a partner.  (U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Violence by Intimates, March 1998.)

12. FACT:  Most people who are abused blame themselves for causing the violence.  (Barnett, Martinex, Keyson, "The relationship between violence, social support, and self-blame n battered women," Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 1996)  However, the fact is that NO ONE is ever to blame for another person's violence - violence is always a choice, and the responsibility is 100% with the person who is violent.

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dating violence warning signs
Are you going out with someone who…


Is jealous or possessive?
Won't let you have friends. Checks up on you. Won't accept breaking up. Tries to control you by being bossy. Gives orders. Makes all of the decisions. Doesn't take you seriously.

Is scary?
You worry about how s/he will react to things you say or do. Threatens you. Uses or owns weapons.

Is violent?
Has a history of fighting. Loses temper easy. Brags about mistreating others.

Pressures you for sex?
Is forceful or scary around sex. Thinks of you as a sex object. Tries to guilt trip you by saying "If you really loved me you would”. Gets too serious about the relationship too fast.

Abuses drugs or alcohol?
Pressures you to take them.

Blames you?
for the mistreatment, they might say that you provoked him/her, pushed his/her buttons, made him/her do it, led him/her on.

Blames other people for his/her problems?
has a history of bad relationships. Believes that in a relationship one person should be in control and have all the power and the other person should be submissive. Your friends and family have warned you about the person or told you they are worried about your safety.