Meghan Tremaine
False allegations are a terrible reality in the world of sexual assault cases. False reports are incredibly damaging to both the individuals involved in the case and to real victims of sexual violence. A false report is a report of sexual assault that did not happen. However, it should be clear that a false report is different from an investigation found to be inconclusive. For a report to be deemed false, investigators must have enough evidence to find that the alleged assault did not occur. A false report of sexual assault is an incredibly serious claim. A wrongful conviction may have major consequences on a person’s life. If the report is deemed false, the person who filed it can also face serious repercussions for their actions. False reports of sexual assault are very dangerous and not something that should be taken lightly.
I do not deny that false allegations exist and that they have very serious consequences for those involved. However, I want to focus on the other consequence, which is the damage it causes to real victims. Through various studies undergone in the United States, it is estimated that false reports make up 2-8% of reported sexual assaults. We must also take into account that, according to a Statistics Canada report from 2014, only 5% of sexual assaults were reported to the police. False allegations make up a very small fraction compared to real cases of sexual assault, reported or not. Despite this, there is widespread belief that false reports happen much more frequently than they really do.
Studies have found that the media may be to blame for these exaggerated beliefs. Especially in recent years, there have been many high-profile media accounts of rape accusations, such as the Ford/Kavanaugh case. Such cases can cause “society to believe the suspect’s statements (a respected cultural icon) and both discount the victim’s statements and disparage [their] character.” Media coverage of such high-profile cases causes people to question the victim’s validity, which in turn becomes a societal norm. Media coverage of false allegations are also more common than real sexual assaults, which conflates in people’s minds how often the two occur. A UK report on the subject found that rates of false allegations of sexual assault were no higher than false allegations of other crimes, such as theft. But does society question the validity of victims of burglary in the way they do victims of sexual assault? No.
What is the issue with this attitude? Well, false reports harm real victims. The belief that false allegations occur far more often than in reality causes society to question victims when they step forward. This criticism of victims is a contributing factor in why so many assaults go unreported. Often times if a victim’s story does not match sexual assault stereotypes then they will be disbelieved. The stereotypes include that the victim did not know their attacker, that they immediately report to law enforcement, and that the suspect is ‘sick, crazy or deranged.’ However, in reality these stereotypes are not true. It is more common for a victim to know their attacker, victims often delay filing reports (for weeks, months, even years), and suspects often seem like a respectable person. So instead of believing a victim who has come forward, people often question them and disbelieve them if their story doesn’t ‘fit’ into inaccurate stereotypes. When someone files a false report, they are undermining a real victim of sexual assault.
So, what is there to be done? I recognize that false reports occur, and it’s a very unfortunate reality. But what I believe is best for people to recognize is that these false reports do not happen as often as they believe, and to recognize that the media only covers a slight fraction of what happens in the world of sexual assault cases. And so, people should be less quick to judge when someone comes forward and tells their story. Instead, we as a society need to continue our growing acceptance of victims. The chances someone is telling the truth is much higher than not, so you should be supportive and non-judgemental in that case. Leave the investigating to the police, who can use their resources and training to investigate the case.
I wish that this topic was discussed more. It is nearly impossible to find reports on the topic of false allegations, with the exception of the tabloids. I believe it is important to start a conversation on the subject because we cannot afford to remain ignorant to the facts. I heard one student saying, ‘look at all these women out here falsely accusing men,’ and I found this comment deeply unsettling. It is this attitude which is toxic and that needs to be addressed. Thankfully society is progressing, but we still have a long way to go.
Sources:
Comments