Overview
Myths about male rape
From ncvc.com on the
Web, January 16, 2008
Society is becoming increasingly
aware of male rape. However, experts believe that current male rape
statistics vastly under-represent the actual number of males age 12 and over who
are raped each year. Rape crisis counselors estimate that while only one
in 50 raped women report the crime to the police, the rates of under-reporting
among men are even higher (Brochman, 1991). Until the mid-1980s, most
literature discussed this violent crime in the context of women only. The
lack of tracking of sexual crimes against men and the lack of research about the
effects of male rape are indicative of the attitude held by society at large --
that while male rape occurs, it is not an acceptable topic for discussion.
Historically, the rape of males was more widely recognized in ancient times.
Several of the legends in Greek mythology involved abductions and sexual
assaults of males by other males or gods. The rape of a defeated male
enemy was considered the special right of the victorious soldier in some
societies and was a signal of the totality of the defeat. There was a
widespread belief that a male who was sexually penetrated, even if it was by
forced sexual assault, thus "lost his manhood," and could no longer be a warrior
or ruler. Gang rape of a male was considered an ultimate form of
punishment and, as such, was known to the Romans as punishment for adultery and
the Persians and Iranians as punishment for violation of the sanctity of the
harem (Donaldson, 1990).
Nicholas Groth, a clinical psychologist and author of Men Who Rape: The
Psychology of the Offender, says all sexual assault is an act of aggression,
regardless of the gender or age of the victim or the assailant. Neither
sexual desire nor sexual deprivation is the primary motivating force behind
sexual assault. It is not about sexual gratification, but rather a sexual
aggressor using somebody else as a means of expressing their own power and
control.
Much has been written about the psychological trauma associated with the rape of
female victims. While less research has been conducted about male rape
victims, case research suggests that males also commonly experience many of the
reactions that females experience. These reactions include:
depression, anger, guilt, self-blame, sexual dysfunctions, flashbacks, and
suicidal feelings (Isley, 1991). Other problems facing males include an
increased sense of vulnerability, damaged self-image and emotional distancing (Mezey
& King, 1989). Male rape victims not only have to confront unsympathetic
attitudes if they choose to press charges, they also often hear unsupportive
statements from their friends, family and acquaintances (Brochman, 1991).
People will tend to fault the male victim instead of the rapist. Stephen
Donaldson, president of Stop Prisoner Rape (a national education and advocacy
group), says that the suppression of knowledge of male rape is so powerful and
pervasive that criminals such as burglars and robbers sometimes rape their male
victims as a sideline solely to prevent them from going to the police.
There are many reasons that male victims do not come forward and report being
raped, but perhaps the biggest reason for many males is the fear of being
perceived as homosexual. However, male sexual assault has nothing to do
with the sexual orientation of the attacker or the victim, just as a sexual
assault does not make the victim survivor gay, bisexual or heterosexual.
It is a violent crime that affects heterosexual men as much as gay men.
The phrase "homosexual rape," for instance, which is often used by uninformed
persons to designate male-male rape, camouflages the fact that the majority of
the rapists are not generally homosexual (Donaldson, 1990).
In a well-known study of offenders and victims conducted by Nicholas Groth and
Ann Burgess, one-half of the offender population described their consenting
sexual encounters to be with women only, while 38 percent had consenting sexual
encounters with men and women. Additionally, one-half of the victim
population was strictly heterosexual. Among the offenders studied, the
gender of the victim did not appear to be of specific significance to half of
the offenders. Instead, they appeared to be relatively indiscriminate with
regard to their choice of a victim -- that is, their victims included both males
and females, as well as both adults and children (Groth & Burgess, 1980).
The choice of a victim seemed to be more a matter of accessibility than of
sexual orientation, gender or age.
Many people believe that the majority of male rape occurs in prison; however,
there is existing research which shatters this myth. A study of
incarcerated and non-incarcerated male rape victims in Tennessee concluded that
the similarities between these two groups would suggest that the sexual assault
of men may not be due to conditions unique to a prison and that all men are
potential victims (Lipscomb et al., 1992).
Research indicates that the most common sites for male rape involving
post-puberty victims are outdoors in remote areas and in automobiles (the latter
usually involving hitchhikers). Boys in their early and mid-teens are more
likely to be victimized than older males (studies indicate a median victim age
of 17). The form of assault usually involves penetration of the victim
anally and/or orally, rather than stimulation of the victim's penis. Gang
rape is more common in cases involving male victims than those involving female
victims. Also, multiple sexual acts are more likely to be demanded,
weapons are more likely to be displayed and used, and physical injury is more
likely to occur, with the injuries that do occur being more serious than with
injured female rape victims (Porter, 1986).
Definition
Sexual assault and rape include any unwanted sexual acts. The
assailant can be a stranger, an acquaintance, a family member, or someone the
victim knows well and trusts. Rape and sexual assault are crimes of
violence and are used to exert power and control over another person. The
legal definitions of rape and sexual assault can vary from state to state
(National Center for Victims of Crime,
GetHep Series: Sexual Assault Legislation). However, usually a sexual
assault occurs when someone touches any part of another person's body in a
sexual way, even through their clothes, without that person's consent.
Rape of males is any kind of sexual assault that involves forced penetration of
the anus or mouth by a penis, finger or any other object. Both rape and
sexual assault includes situations when the victim cannot say "no" because he is
disabled, unconscious, drunk or high.
In some states, the word "rape" is used only to define a forced act of vaginal
sexual intercourse, and an act of forced anal intercourse is termed "sodomy."
In some states, the crime of sodomy also includes any oral sexual act.
There are some states that now use gender-neutral terms to define acts of forced
anal, vaginal or oral intercourse. Also, some states no longer use the
terms "rape" and "sodomy," rather all sex crimes are described as sexual
assaults or criminal sexual conduct of various degrees depending on the use and
amount of force or coercion on the part of the assailant (National Center for
Victims of Crime,
GetHep Series: Sexual Assault Legislation).
Victims' Response
It is not uncommon for a male rape victim to blame himself for the rape,
believing that he in some way gave permission to the rapist (Brochman, 1991).
Male rape victims suffer a similar fear that female rape victims face -- that
people will believe the myth that they may have enjoyed being raped. Some
men may believe they were not raped or that they gave consent because they
became sexually aroused, had an erection, or ejaculated during the sexual
assault. These are normal, involuntary physiological reactions. It
does not mean that the victim wanted to be raped or sexually assaulted, or that
the survivor enjoyed the traumatic experience. Sexual arousal does not
necessarily mean there was consent.
According to Groth, some assailants may try to get their victim to ejaculate
because for the rapist, it symbolizes their complete sexual control over their
victim's body. Since ejaculation is not always within conscious control
but rather an involuntary physiological reaction, rapists frequently succeed at
getting their male victims to ejaculate. As Groth and Burgess have found
in their research, this aspect of the attack is extremely stressful and
confusing to the victim. In misidentifying ejaculation with orgasm, the
victim may be bewildered by his physiological response during the sexual assault
and, therefore, may be discouraged from reporting the assault for fear his
sexuality may become suspect (Groth & Burgess, 1980).
Another major concern facing male rape victims is society's belief that men
should be able to protect themselves and, therefore, it is somehow their fault
that they were raped. The experience of a rape may affect gay and
heterosexual men differently. Most rape counselors point out that gay men
have difficulties in their sexual and emotional relationships with other men and
think that the assault occurred because they are gay, whereas straight men often
begin to question their sexual identity and are more disturbed by the sexual
aspect of the assault than the violence involved (Brochman, 1991).
Male Rape as an Act of Anti-Gay Violence
Unfortunately, incidents of anti-gay violence also include forcible rape,
either oral or anal. Attackers frequently use verbal harassment and
name-calling during such a sexual assault. Given the context of coercion,
however, such technically homosexual acts seem to imply no homosexuality on the
part of the offenders. The victim serves, both physically and
symbolically, as a "vehicle for the sexual status needs of the offenders in the
course of recreational violence" (Harry, 1992, p.115).
If You Are a Victim
Rape and sexual assault include any unwanted sexual acts. Even if you
agree to have sex with someone, you have the right to say "no" at any time, and
to say "no" to any sexual acts. If you are sexually assaulted or raped, it
is never your fault -- you are not responsible for the actions of others.
Richie J. McMullen, author of Male Rape: Breaking the Silence on the
Last Taboo, encourages seeking immediate medical attention whether or not
the incident is reported to police. Even if you do not seem injured, it is
important to get medical attention. Sometimes injuries that seem minor at
first can get worse. Survivors can sometimes contract a sexually
transmitted disease during the sexual assault, but not suffer immediate
symptoms. Even if the symptoms of that disease take weeks or months to
appear, it might be easily treated with an early diagnosis. (If you are
concerned about HIV exposure, it is important to talk to a counselor about the
possibility of exposure and the need for testing. For more information
about HIV transmission and testing, contact the Centers for Disease Control
National HIV/AIDS Hotline. Check the contact list at the end of this
bulletin for the phone number and address information.)
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