Myth Children provoke sexual abuse by their seductive behavior.

Fact

Seductive behavior may be the result, but is never the cause of sexual abuse. Amy Fisher, the Long Island teenager who shot her sex offender's wife in the face and whom the media dubbed Lolita having an affair with a married man, is a perfect example of this myth. During her trial for attempting to kill Joey Buttafuoco's wife, Amy Fisher revealed that she had been sexually abused before her abuse by Buttafuoco. Her behavior, considered by many to be seductive and promiscuous was, in fact, a result of prior abuse. However, regardless of the victim's behavior or reason for such behavior, the responsibility for appropriate behavior always lies with the adult, not the child. A 16-year-old girl is no match for the cunning and streetwise tactics of a man twice her age; therefore, the ability to effect adult consent is unreasonable to expect.

http://www.womensweb.ca/violence/incest/myths.php

Child sexual abuse/incest

Common myths about child sexual abuse and incest

By Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD