1 / 15

Clearing the Air on Sexual Assault - Whether it’s Cee-Lo’s bizarre comments about rape, the two-dozen plus accusations against legendary comedian Bill Cosby or the news of Jada, a Texas teen who was drugged and assaulted, the current dialogue about rape in our community has been necessary. But at times, it’s been filled with dangerous myths and misinformation. Get the truth here. —Kellee Terrell(Photos from Left: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Department, KHOU 11 TV, Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

2 / 15

Myth No. 1: You Can Only Be Raped By Strangers - That stranger waiting in the bushes myth is just that. Actually, 75 percent of rapes are committed by non-strangers, with 38 percent of attackers being friends and acquaintances, 28 percent being those known intimately and 7 percent being family members, says RAINN.   (Photo: UpperCut Images/Getty Images)

3 / 15

Myth No. 2: If You Were Drugged and Raped, You Would Know - Given Cee-Lo’s incredibly reckless statements last year, there seems to be some confusion around what victims should remember and what they shouldn’t. Drugs affect people differently; sometimes it causes people to pass out like Jada, where they don’t remember anything, sometimes people do remember, like Beverly Johnson. Memory or lack thereof, doesn’t have anything to do with whether or not a crime was committed.  (Photo: Inti St Clair/Blend Images/Corbis)

4 / 15

Myth No. 3: Most Rape Accusations Are False - Looking at Rolling Stone's Virginia rape article controversy and the infamous Duke Lacrosse rape allegations, there seems to be a belief that many women like to falsely accuse men of rape. This couldn’t be further than the truth. Recent data shows that only 2-10 percent are allegations are false.(Photo: Nicole Hill/Rubberball/Corbis)

5 / 15

Myth No. 4: 'Real' Rape Victims Report Rape Right After Their Attacks - It’s estimated that 60 percent of all rapes go unreported, which is probably due to the fact that when women do report, only 3 percent of rapists get jail time. Other reasons why women don't report include stigma, fear of not being believed, police mistreatment, denial, fear of what will happen to them in their community, shame and other factors why so many women suffer in silence.(Photo: Fuse/Getty Images)

6 / 15

Myth No. 5: Women Bring Out the Rapists in Men - Never are women to blame for why men rape. Nothing that women do — whether it’s drink too much, wear revealing clothes, put themselves alone in a room with a man — can provoke men to rape. It is not women’s responsibility to prevent rape. (Photo: momentimages/Tetra Images/Corbis)

7 / 15

Myth No. 6: Fast Girls Cannot Be Raped - How many sexual partners you choose to have doesn’t have anything to do with your chances of being raped. So whether you are a virgin or you have multiple partners, any woman who is forced to have sex against her will and does not consent to sex is being raped.  (Photo: David Jakle/Corbis)

8 / 15

Myth No. 7: Good Looking Men and Rich Men Don’t Need to Rape - Looking specifically at accused former NFL player Darren Sharper and comedian Bill Cosby, there seems to be this belief that men like that don’t need to rape because they can have any woman they want. But remember, rape is not about not being able to find suitable sexual partners. It’s about control, power and complete disregard for other people.  (Photo: Olga Rozenbajgier/Corbis)

Photo By Photo: Olga Rozenbajgier/Corbis

9 / 15

Myth No. 8: If She Is Drunk, It's OK - Never. Women and girls have to consent to have sex. And when you are drunk, you cannot consent. Sleeping with someone who is drunk and/or passed out is rape. If you are so sure she wants you, then she will say yes when she is sober. (Photo: Randy Faris/Corbis)

10 / 15

Myth No. 9: It's Not Rape if I Slept With Her Already - Consent has to happen every time in order for it not to be rape. Whether it’s a casual thing, your girlfriend or even your wife, you do not own anyone's body but your own. You have to ask every time and a woman has the right to say, “No, not tonight."(Photo: Pauline St. Denis/Corbis)

11 / 15

Myth No. 10: If It’s Not Happening to Me, It’s Not My Problem - Like President Obama stated, rape is a crime against an entire community, not just the individual. We all have to do our part to prevent rape in our community by speaking up about what is going on around us.(Photo: 68/Oktay Ortakcioglu/Ocean/Corbis)

Photo By Photo: 68/Oktay Ortakcioglu/Ocean/Corbis

12 / 15

Myth No. 11: Rape Isn't a Serious Problem - Rape is not an imaginary epidemic created by feminists to make men look bad. Almost one-third of women will be raped in her lifetime. According to existing data, for every Black woman who reports a rape, there are at least 15 who don't and approximately 40 percent of Black women report coercive sexual contact by the age of 18.  So yes, we have a problem. (Photo: MachineHeadz/Getty Images)

13 / 15

Myth No. 12: If You Wanted to Prevent Being Raped, You Could
 - Everyone's assault is different and for some women, it's about survival and coping. In some instances, they are drugged or intoxicated and couldn’t fight. So it’s unfair to judge to a victim on how she should react to being raped. Remember: A woman’s reaction doesn’t determine a rapist’s guilt or innocence.(Photo: laflor/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: laflor/Getty Images

14 / 15

Myth No. 13: Saying Rape Is a Problem in Black America Is Saying All Black Men Are Rapists

 - We know that not all Black men rape, but some do. But staying silent can no longer be an option. (Photo: -Oxford-/Getty Images)

15 / 15

Myth No. 14: It's Not Rape If He Pays for Everything

 - If you are holding things over a woman's head, such as spending money, a ride to work, physical threats, paying the rent, etc., in order to coerce a woman to have sex with you, that is rape as well. Sex should be consensual, not a trade off for keeping the lights on. (Photo: Jeremy Woodhouse/Getty Images)