Men get raped. They can get raped by anybody, including other men and women.
Male rape survivors are an underreported class because of the stigma from the myth that men can’t get raped by a woman.
According to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), “For many male survivors, stereotypes about masculinity can also make it hard to disclose to friends, family, or the community.”1
The sourced articles below should provide you more information on male survivors of rape.
Footnote: 1. “Sexual Assault of Men and Boys,” rainn.org, accessed 10/17/2018
- MaleSurvivor: Our History
ABOUT US: “Since then NOMSV (now MaleSurvivor) has been a leader in the fight to improve the resources and support available to male survivors of all forms of sexual abuse in the US and around the globe. We are a community built upon a unique foundation of respect and mutual partnership between survivors themselves and the professionals who work with them.”
MaleSurvivor, malesurvivor.org, accessed on 10/17/2018
- Sexual Assault Of Men And Boys
“How to support male survivors …
It can be hard to tell someone that you have experienced sexual assault or abuse. You may fear that you will face judgment or not be believed. For many male survivors, stereotypes about masculinity can also make it hard to disclose to friends, family, or the community. Men and boys also may face challenges believing that it is possible for them to be victims of sexual violence, especially if it is perpetrated by a woman. Below are a few suggestions on how you can support a man or boy who discloses to you that he has experienced sexual assault or abuse. …
[1.] Listen. …
[2.] Validate their feelings. …
[3.] Express concern. …
[4.] Do not ask about details of the assault. …
[5.] Provide appropriate resources. …”Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), rainn.org, accessed on 10/17/2018
- The Army Wants More Male Sexual Assault Survivors To File Reports
“Sexual assault prevention training has long focused on male perpetrators and female victims, but knowing that research finds that more men than women are sexually assaulted while serving in the military, the Army is making a pivot toward tackling male-on-male sexual violence.”
Meghann Myers, armytimes.com, 8/22/2018
- Overcoming The Stigma Of Sexual Assault: Know The Facts
“Myth #6: Boys and men can’t be raped, and women can’t be perpetrators. Fact: Boys and men can be raped, and women can be rapists.
Women and girls are more likely to experience rape and other forms of sexual assault than men and boys. Indeed, many analysts argue the threat of sexual assault is a way of controlling women. Yet sexual assault is also common among men and boys.
The CDC reports 1 in 6 men experience sexual violence during their lives. 1.7 million men have been raped. …
Most research suggests male survivors are typically victimized by other men. Yet a 2017 data analysis suggests 28% of male survivors are raped by women alone—not women acting with other men.
A person does not have to penetrate another person for it to be rape. Women can overpower men and force them to have sex. They can use coercive methods, power imbalances, and weapons to extract sex. Women may also use so-called date rape drugs, including alcohol.
Data on male rape survivors is mixed and often contradictory. This is due in part to the stigma associated with being a man who has been raped. Some men worry that being raped makes them gay, weak, or less of a man. Stigma can prevent male survivors from seeking necessary help.”Zawn Villine, goodtherapy.org, 6/22/2018
- Male Rape And Sexual Torture Widespread In Syria Crisis – Report
“UNHCR’s report was undertaken with a view to expanding knowledge both of the nature and extent of the problem of sexual violence affecting refugee boys and men, and with a view to identifying good practices and other means of addressing the needs of victims of sexual violence.”
UNHCR Staff, the UN Refugee Agency, unhcr.org, 12/6/2017
- The Hidden Epidemic Of Men Who Are Raped By Women
“[UCLA law professor Lara] Stemple’s new, wide-ranging study presents the results of the CDC’s most recent phone survey, which found that 68.6 percent of men who report sexual victimization describe female perpetrators. Meanwhile, among men who reported being made to penetrate—’the form of nonconsensual sex men are much more likely to experience in their lifetime,’ according to the study—79.2 percent cited female perpetrators.”
Steven Blum, vice.com, 11/29/2016
- Speaking Of Stigma And The Silence Of Shame: Young Men And Sexual Victimization
Abstract: “Forensic interviews with young men following reports of suspected sexual assault reveal patterns of heteronormative scripts appropriated to make sense of sexual victimization. These scripts show that victimhood is largely incompatible with dominant notions of masculinity. Sexual coercion and assault embodied threat to boys’ (hetero)gendered selves, as they described feelings of shame and embarrassment, disempowerment, and emasculation. These masks of masculinity create barriers to disclosure and help to explain the serious underreporting of male sexual victimization.”
Heather R. Hlavka, sagepub.com, 6/5/2016
- Understanding Rape Myths: A Guide For Counselors Working With Male Survivors Of Sexual Violence
“The prevalence of male rape myths, along with the existing number of male survivors of sexual violence, results in several implications for professional counselors. First, it is imperative that counselors acknowledge the existence of rape myths and the adverse effects they cause for male survivors. The research literature has provided repeated evidence that male rape myths exist, and that many individuals (including counselors) believe them …”
Jonathan L. Bateman and Cristen Wathen, counseling.org, 2015; (Broken link removed 12/2024)