reproductive health services for adolescents - Pathfinder International

Module 16/Trainer's Tools
10. __X__Truth _____Myth An adolescent is less likely to be sexually violated
if her/his parents know her/his date (boyfriend or
girlfriend).
It lessens the anonymity and lets the date know that someone cares about who their
child is with.
11. __X__Truth _____Myth People who are sexually abused as children or
adolescents are more likely to become sexual
abusers as adults.
Studies show that people who are sexually abused as children are more likely to
become abusers themselves unless they receive psychological support to help
them deal with the abuse that they experienced.
12. __X__Truth _____Myth Rape can occur within marriage.
Marital rape is when one spouse forces the other to have sex either by physical or
emotional coercion. We discussed marital rape; can anyone define other types of
rape Acquaintance rape, stranger rape, gang rape.
13. _____Truth __X__Myth Women asked to be raped when they wear
revealing clothing or act flirtatious.*
No one asks to be raped. A woman has the right to wear whatever she pleases,
and a man has the responsibility to respect that. Dressing attractively and flirting
are an invitation for attention and/or admiration, but they are NOT an invitation for
rape. Only a rapist is responsible for rape.
14. __X__Truth _____Myth Alcohol can contribute to sexual assault.*
Drinking effects communications, reasoning skills, and self-control. For the attacker,
alcohol might reduce inhibitions and lead to acts of violence that would not have
happened if he or she was not drinking. Alcohol might also diminish a person’s
ability to correctly interpret verbal and/or nonverbal cues from a partner about
consent for sexual activity. For the victim, alcohol might inhibit his or her ability to
fight off an attacker or to act on early warning signs of a high-risk situation.
15. _____Truth __X__Myth If a young woman did not fight back, she was not
really assaulted.
Young women in rape or sexual abuse situations are legitimately afraid either of
being injured further or that the abuser/attacker will harm them in some other way.
Terror often prevents a young woman from fighting back.
*Source: EngenderHealth and Planned Parenthood Association of South Africa. 2001. Men as partners:
a program for supplementing the training of life skills educators, second edition. New York:
EngenderHealth.
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Adolescent Curriculum