GRSJ224/Male Rape

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The symbol of the roman god Mars (god of war) is often used to describe the male sex.

Overview

Male rape is a form of sexual assault involving a male victim. According to The Men’s Project, it is defined as “any non-consensual act of sexual coercion and/or domination which threatens the physical and/or psychological well being of a boy or male adolescent." [1] These acts involve a misuse of power and may or may not involve physical force. Male sexual abuse includes: unwanted sexual touching, unwanted sexual exposure, unwanted exposure to pornography, sexual harassment, incest, child prostitution, sexual assault and rape. It is estimated that at least one in six men will experience sexual assault by the age of 16.[2] However, only 1 out of every 10 male rape cases are reported.[3]This is due in large part to the stigma and culture surrounding male rape, as well as the legal definitions surrounding male victimization. These obstacles hinder public awareness and skew the public’s perception. And in turn, has left male victims with a lack of services and legal entities capable of providing support.

Stigma Surrounding Male Rape

The idea of boys and men being sexually assaulted is widely viewed as “impossible” or “fictional.” This reality is widely dismissed in large part due to the traditional and strongly held views about gender roles. The concept of female perpetrators overpowering (physically or mentally) male victims challenges our ideals about men, women, sexuality, strength, and power. In our society, when we think of rape, we believe that men cannot be raped because they are stronger, and because of this, male rape victims are not given a voice and not given a fair chance when they can experience the same thing that women do.

Men Cannot Be Victims

In society, men are characterised as being stronger, faster, and bigger than women. Therefore, according to society, they are not vulnerable and cannot be sexually assaulted.[4] However, sexual assaults can occur by means other than physical acts, such as, differences in status, having power or authority over one another, mental manipulation, use of drugs or alcohol, and threats. For example, in the workplace, having power over a lower ranked employee. Due to this gender role stereotype, men may feel that reporting their sexual assaults will diminish their masculinity. Moreover, men are often overcome with worries that nobody will believe their story - and find it safer to not report it at all.[5]

Men Are “Lucky”

The stigma that men “always want to have sex” and that they are therefore “lucky” to experience sexual violence from a female is widely considered the norm in society. Males are viewed as dominant; and females are viewed as submissive. It has become the norm that men approach women for sexual encounters, and it is up to the women to either decline or accept. If a female approaches a man for a sexual encounter, it is viewed as a rarity and that the man is getting “lucky.” For instance, in recent months, a widely publicized scandal involving a female teacher having sex with a male high school student was highly regarded as the male getting “lucky.” And the teacher was sentenced to minimal jail time.[6] Whereas, in cases involving a male teacher and a female student, the teacher is viewed as a predator and is often sentenced to decades in prison.[7]

Additionally, it is thought that if a male receives an erection or an orgasm, it indicates that they must be consenting and enjoying any sexual acts. However, erections and ejaculation are involuntary actions. The sexual responses are controlled by the central nervous system and neurotransmitters in the brain. The neurotransmitters can also be stimulated from unpleasant acts, such as fear and intimidation. Just as female victims may become aroused or orgasm during rape - the same logic applies to male victims. Men and women are not that different when it comes to sex, however, it is commonly perceived that way. Both can get aroused during sex, and rape but that does not mean they want it to happen. [8]

Lack of Support

Men are often faced with unsympathetic attitudes from authorities if they choose to press charges. In addition, people will often fault the male victim instead of the rapist. Men are left feeling alone as there have been very little studies performed involving female on male sexual violence, and there is a strong lack of awareness for male rape victims.[9] Due to this cultural stigma, rape crisis centres simply do not possess the resources to counsel or support male victims.

According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), there are thousands of crisis centres specifically for females across North America, but there are none specifically for men, and only a handful capable of providing support for both sexes.[10] However, in October of 2015, Sweden opened the first rape crisis centre that was developed specifically for male survivors of sexual assault - which is truly amazing, and illustrates the increasing awareness for male victims of sexual assault.[11]

Research & Statistics

Research and data related to sexually assaulted males is scarce. Several factors have influenced the lack of data available, including: beliefs about gender roles, social stigma, and a lack of male victims reporting their assaults. Studies focusing on male victims did not even appear until roughly 30 years ago, and even then, the data was focused mainly on females and lacked substance.[12] However, there is a strong presence around the world of increased awareness and understanding for male victims.

Additionally, the definitions and legal terms associated with sexual assaults and rapes differ between male and female genders. In the United States, up until 2012, rape was defined as “carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will.”[13] It does not even include the male gender in the legal definition. A high profile case involving a university football coach, Jerry Sandusky, generated an increased awareness for male victims and lead to the change in definition to account for both genders. Under the old definition, many of his crimes would have gone unreported. Nonetheless, this is an example of the distortions that legal definitions can cause, as data from decades prior uses different criteria for each gender to depict similar acts. Additionally, the Center For Disease Control (CDC) implemented a new category of sexual assault, “being made to penetrate,” which depicts instances in which victims were forced to penetrate someone. Since the inception of this category, men reported “being made to penetrate” - either by physical force or due to intoxication - in similar numbers to females (1.7% of females vs. 1.6% of males in 2011).[14]

Male on Male Rape

In the United States, “prison rape” accounts for a vast majority of male to male sexual assaults. “No Escape: Male Rape in U.S. Prisons” was a book released in 2001 by Humans Rights Watch - a non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights - that heavily influenced the creation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act in 2003.[15] There is not much reliable data on the prevalence of sexual assaults in prison, but independent studies have placed estimates that as high as 22 percent of inmates experienced sexual assault during their time in prison.[16] The United States Department of Justice released a report in 2012 that estimated 4.0% of state and federal inmates and 3.2% of jail inmates reported experiencing sexual assaults during the 12 months prior.[17] However, these numbers have been criticized as being largely understated.

Sexual assault of inmates and detainees has also been reported as common practice during war as a weapon of terror and torture. For instance, in Guantanamo Bay, the CIA has used torture techniques that include forced sodomy to inmates - often with objects.[18] And currently in Syria, male prisoners have reported to have experienced severe sexual abuse often with great harm to their genitals.[19]

Female on Male Rape

The legal definition of rape only included the female sex until 2012 in the US, as the government did not recognize that men could also be rape victims by the hands of men or women. Due to this, there is very little data on male victims of sexual assault, namely those that involved female perpetrators. Severe under reporting is also a significant issue in male rape victim data. [20]

According to a recent study by the National Crime Victimization Survey which involved 40 000 households, approximately 38% of incidents related to rape and sexual violence were against men. [21] In addition, data released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics claims that 46% of male victims reported that their assailant was female. [22]

Sexual assault is widespread in the US prison system, and they account for the majority of reported sexual assaults against men. According to a report by the US Department of Justice, roughly 100 000 incidents of sexual abuse are reported each year throughout prisons in the US. Of juveniles that reported staff sexual misconduct, 89% were reporting it to have been by a female staff member. For men, 69% of those in prison and 64% in jail reported sexual misconduct with female staff, while 16% of prison and 30% of jail inmates reported that the incidents occurred within 24 hours of entering the prison. [23]

Reporting

As stated above, it is estimated that only 1 out of every 10 male rape cases are reported.[24] And this is due in large part to the stigma surrounding male victims that is widespread in today’s societies. Listed above are several aspects intertwined in today’s culture that leave men trapped in silence, shame, and self-loathing.

Reasons Child Sexual Abuse Incidents Adult Sexual Assault Incidents
Nobody Would Believe Me 14 5
Shame/ Embarrassment 14 2
Did Not Know Could Report 14 0
No Family Support 11 0
Fear Offender 8 1
No Evidence 7 3
No Evidence in CJS 5 4
Other 2 1
Previous Bad Experience 1 1
For Sake of Family 1 0

Why Not

A study performed by the Justice Department of Canada in 2013 examined the circumstances and effects experienced by male sexual assault victims from a few support centres around the country. As shown in the table to the above, the researchers were able to narrow down the list of reasons as to why not to report the sexual assault.[25] Of note is that for children, shame and embarrassment, a lack of family support, and the notion that nobody would believe them are the main factors. “Nobody believing them” is also the prime reason for adults. “Too ashamed. Didn’t think anyone would believe me. I would blame myself, that maybe it was me,” one participant spoke. However, interestingly, having no evidence is the next most popular answer, which goes “hand in hand” with “nobody believing them.” It should be mentioned that the majority of the participants in this study were children.[26]

Impacts

It is reported conservatively that one of every six men will have experienced sexual assault before the age of 16.[27] Due to the contrasting definitions between female and male victims, this number could be higher. For instance, the number would rise to one in four men if non-contact sexual behaviour was included, such as, someone exposing themselves. [28]

Male Symptoms of Sexual Assault
Anger
Fear
Helplessness
Homosexuality Issues (mainly for men abused by other men)
Isolation and Alienation
Masculinity Issues
Negative Peer Relations
Problems With Sexuality
Self Blame/ Guilt
Shame/ Humiliation
Negative Schemas About Other People

Common symptoms of sexually assaulted men are listed in the table above.[29] It is worth mentioning that men are more likely than women to:

  • Minimize the impact of sexual abuse, rather than accept it
  • Have their parents minimize the impact of the abuse
  • Experience anger and rage at first, and feelings of grief only later on in the stages of recovery

However, they are less likely to consider childhood sexual experiences to be sexual abuse. For instance, only 16% of men with documented histories of sexual abuse considered themselves to have been sexually abused; compared to 64% of women in the same study.[30] Men are also far less likely to report their traumas than females.

Men that have been sexually assaulted are also at greater risk to develop severe mental illnesses, such as:[31][32][33]

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Depression
  • Alcoholism and drug abuse
  • Suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts
  • Underachievement at school and work

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Definitions of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault, by The Men's Project. Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://themensproject.ca/definitionssexualabusesexualassault
  2. ↑ Dube, S.R., Anda, R.F., Whitfield, C.L., et al. (2005). Long-term consequences of childhood sexual abuse by gender of victim. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 28, 430-438.
  3. ↑ "Male Rape Victims Left to Suffer In Silence". Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s244535.htm
  4. ↑ Lisak, D., Hopper, J. & Song, P. (1996). Factors in the cycle of violence: Gender rigidity and emotional constriction. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 9, 721-743.
  5. ↑ "Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Assault: Their Experiences." Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/victim/rr13_8/rr13_8.pdf
  6. ↑ Perth teacher spared jail for sex with student. Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/perth-teacher-spared-jail-for-sex-with-student-20150219-13jrc1.html
  7. ↑ Jenny Awford For Daily Mail Australia. (2015). Former policeman, 44, jailed for having sex with girl, 15, he met online and picked up from a library in her school uniform. Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3239171/former-policeman-44-jailed-having-sex-15-year-old-girl.html
  8. ↑ How Erections Work. (2013). Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/02/how-erections-work/
  9. ↑ Richard Tewksbury. Department of Justice Administration, University of Louisville. Effects on Sexual Assaults on Men: Physical, Mental and Sexual Consequences. International Journal of Men's Health, Vol 6, No 1, Spring 2007.
  10. ↑ RAINN | Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network | RAINN: The nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization.One of "America's 100 Best Charities" -Worth magazine. Retrieved November 20, 2015, from https://rainn.org/
  11. ↑ “Why Sweden Just Opened The First Male Rape Clinic In the World | Broadly.” Broadly RSS. Web. 20 Nov. 2015. <https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/why-sweden-just-opened-the-first-male-rape-clinic-in-the-world>
  12. ↑ Richard Tewksbury. Department of Justice Administration, University of Louisville. Effects on Sexual Assaults on Men: Physical, Mental and Sexual Consequences. International Journal of Men's Health, Vol 6, No 1, Spring 2007.
  13. ↑ “FBI Changes Definition of Rape to Include Men as Victims.” USATODAY.COM. Web. 21 Nov. 2015. <http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-01-06/fbi-rape-definition-adds-men/52398350/1>
  14. ↑ “Prevalence And Characteristics of Sexual Violence, Stalking, and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization — National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, United States, 2011.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2014. Web. 21 Nov. 2015. <http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6308a1.htm>
  15. ↑ Mariner, Joanne; et al. (2001). "No Escape: Male Rape in U.S. Prisons". Human Rights Watch. ISBN 1-56432-258-0. Retrieved November 20, 2015
  16. ↑ Lewin, Tamar (2001-04-15). "Little sympathy or remedy for inmates who are raped". The New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  17. ↑ Beck, Allen J.; et al. (2013). "Sexual Victimization in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates" (PDF). US Department of Justice. p. 6. Retrieved November 20, 2015
  18. ↑ CNN. Retrieved November 21, 2015, from http://www.cnn.com/2008/us/06/18/gitmo.detainees/index.html?eref=rss_world
  19. ↑ Amnesty International. 2012. 'I Wanted to Die': Syria's torture survivors speak out. London: Amnesty International Publications.
  20. ↑ Fisher, Nicola. "An overview of the literature on female-perpetrated adult male sexual victimization" (PDF). University of Kent. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  21. ↑ Rosin, H. Men Are Raped Almost as Often as Women in America. We Need to Talk About This. . Retrieved November 25, 2015, from http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2014/04/male_rape_in_america_a_new_study_reveals_that_men_are_sexually_assaulted.html
  22. ↑ Male Sexual Victimization. Retrieved November 25, 2015, from http://jmm.sagepub.com/content/12/3/275.abs
  23. ↑ "Sexual Victimization in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates, 2008-09" (PDF). U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  24. ↑ "Male Rape Victims Left to Suffer In Silence". Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s244535.htm
  25. ↑ "Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Assault: Their Experiences." Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/victim/rr13_8/rr13_8.pdf
  26. ↑ "Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Assault: Their Experiences." Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/victim/rr13_8/rr13_8.pdf
  27. ↑ Dube, S.R., Anda, R.F., Whitfield, C.L., et al. (2005). Long-term consequences of childhood sexual abuse by gender of victim. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 28, 430-438.
  28. ↑ Dube, S.R., Anda, R.F., Whitfield, C.L., et al. (2005). Long-term consequences of childhood sexual abuse by gender of victim. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 28, 430-438.
  29. ↑ Infolink: Male Rape. Retrieved November 21, 2015, from http://members.shaw.ca/pdg/male_rape.html
  30. ↑ Widom, C.S. & Morris, S. (1997). Accuracy of adult recollections of childhood victimization part 2. Childhood sexual abuse. Psychological Assessment, 9, 34-46.
  31. ↑ Lisak, D. & Luster, L. (1994). Educational, occupational and relationship histories of men who were sexually and/or physically abused as children. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 7, 507-523.
  32. ↑ Felitti, V.J., Anda, R.F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D.F., Spitz, A.M., et al. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14, 245-258.
  33. ↑ Dube, S.R., Anda, R.F., Whitfield, C.L., et al. (2005). Long-term consequences of childhood sexual abuse by gender of victim. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 28, 430-438.
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