Not exactly how it works. For one, in this particular case, the survivor had mentioned that her hands had been tied to a cot and she had been too scared to offer resistance when her uncles (remember, she was only 15) assaulted her. The fact that survivors often freeze at/during the time of forced sexual assault is a well-documented one – how could her fear be discounted?

For another, the absence of injuries is in NO WAY an invalidation of sexual assault.

What Happened in Another Case:

When Smita* was allegedly raped by her former boss for the first time, she remained numb through the process – she’d told this reporter. She simply couldn’t believe someone she was in love with could force sexual assault upon her. “After a point, I just gave up and waited for it to be over,” she’d said.

There were no injuries.