04/21/2026
"We shouldn't question survivors. We should question why we were taught to doubt them."
Sexual violence is widely underreported. Research estimates that only 20–30% of survivors report it to law enforcement. Of those who do report, there is often little or no physical evidence, which can lead to little or no accountability for the abuser. False reports of sexual violence are rare, estimated at around 2–8%, meaning the vast majority of reports are truthful.
Survivors who come forward are often asked to tell their story over and over again- to officers, in court, and to people who question what they went through. Many also face pressure to stay quiet, with messages like “I wish she would just move on,” which can make it even harder to speak up or continue forward.
The decision to report or not to report is not simple. Survivors often weigh safety, fear, shame, relationships, and how they will be treated if they speak out. The emotional and mental toll of that decision is heavy and not something most people see or understand without the full picture.
When people automatically doubt survivors, they aren’t being careful or objective. They’re repeating a bias that already discourages reporting in the first place.
Believing survivors is not about ignoring facts. It’s about not letting stigma decide whose voice is taken seriously.
