Sexual Violence Survey 2022 – Attitudes to Sexual Violence

Agreement with certain statements on sexual violence

This chapter examines the level of agreement with certain statements about sexual violence. It is solely based on replies from survey respondents who did not experience sexual violence (in their lifetime) or sexual harassment (in the last 12 months). This approach was chosen in line with ethical principles which aimed to reduce harm to respondents. Responding to these questions after sharing information on personal experiences of sexual violence or harassment could have been distressing. Further information is provided in the Background Notes. This data is based on replies from those aged 18 and over.

Data from the Sexual Violence Survey 2022 – Main Results shows that four in ten adults (40%) experienced sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. Close to three in ten adults experienced sexual violence as an adult (26%) and as a child (29%). Women experienced higher levels of sexual violence in their lifetime (52%) than men (28%). Similarly, women reported experiencing higher levels of sexual violence as an adult (39%) than men (12%) - over three times the rate.

The majority of men and women disagreed with the statement “If a person who has been raped is not visibly upset by the experience, it probably was not rape” and “Women often make up or exaggerate reports of rape”. Men (31%) were more likely than women (25%) to be uncertain with the statement "Women often make up or exaggerate reports of rape". Age differences were evident, particularly on the levels of uncertainty with the statements. Older adults more likely to be uncertain with the statement "If a person who has been raped is not visibly upset by the experience, it probably was not rape” than younger age groups. Those aged 65 and over were most likely to be uncertain with the statement "Men may be too embarrassed to say they have been raped" (23%).

80%

of adults

agreed with the statement "Men may be too embarrassed to say they have been raped"

Source: CSO Ireland, Sexual Violence Survey 2022 – Attitudes to Sexual Violence

Most adults disagree with the statement “If a person who has been raped is not visibly upset by the experience, it probably was not rape”

Key findings for those who did not experience sexual violence in their lifetime or sexual harassment in the last 12 months by their level of agreement with the statement "If a person who has been raped is not visibly upset by the experience, it probably was not rape":

• Almost nine in ten (87%) adults disagreed with the statement "If a person who has been raped is not visibly upset by the experience, it probably was not rape". The rate for men and women was similar, at 88% and 86% respectively. See Table 3.1.
• One in ten (10%) adults were uncertain with the statement "If a person who has been raped is not visibly upset by the experience, it probably was not rape”, with 2% agreeing with the statement overall.
• Those aged 65 and over were less likely to disagree with the statement "If a person who has been raped is not visibly upset by the experience, it probably was not rape" (75%) compared with those aged 18-24 and those aged 35-64 (90%).
• Those aged 65 and over were three times more likely to be uncertain with the statement "If a person who has been raped is not visibly upset by the experience, it probably was not rape" (18%) compared with those aged 18-24 (6%).

Older adults more likely to agree that "Women often make up or exaggerate reports of rape"

Key findings for those who did not experience sexual violence in their lifetime or sexual harassment in the last 12 months by their level of agreement with the statement "Women often make up or exaggerate reports of rape":

• Those aged 65 and over were three times more likely to agree with the statement "Women often make up or exaggerate reports of rape" (15%) compared with those aged 35-44 (5%). See Table 3.2.
• Overall, over six in ten (62%) adults disagreed with the statement "Women often make up or exaggerate reports of rape". Women were more likely to disagree with that statement (68%) than men (59%).
• Almost a third of men (31%) compared with a quarter of women (25%) were uncertain with the statement "Women often make up or exaggerate reports of rape".
• Those aged 18-24 (34%) compared with those aged 55-64 (25%) were more likely to be uncertain with the statement "Women often make up or exaggerate reports of rape".

Most agree that "Men may be too embarrassed to say they have been raped"

Key findings for those who did not experience sexual violence in their lifetime or sexual harassment in the last 12 months by their level of agreement with the statement "Men may be too embarrassed to say they have been raped":

• Eight in ten (80%) adults agreed with the statement "Men may be too embarrassed to say they have been raped". The rate for men and women was similar, at 80% and 82% respectively. See Table 3.3.
• Those aged 55-64 were more likely to agree with the statement "Men may be too embarrassed to say they have been raped" (87%) than those aged 65 years and over (71%).
• Those aged 65 and over were most likely to be uncertain with the statement "Men may be too embarrassed to say they have been raped" (23%), over twice the levels for those aged 18-24 (11%).