Although sexual assault is most often a crime against women, men can also be victims of sexual assault. Men and boys are sexually assaulted and molested every day in the United States. It is believed that 1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted before age 18. 83% of abused boys are under the age of 12; 26% are under the age of 6. 25–35% of child sexual abuse victims are males. Many men do not report their assault. Stigma, stereotypes, and society’s reluctance to accept a man’s sexual victimization keep men from reporting their assaults.

Young boys are most likely to be abused by someone they know and trust. Sexual abusers can be fathers, mothers, stepparents, uncles, neighbors, spiritual leaders, and camp counselors. 85% of the time, boys know their abusers.

Adult men can be assaulted by friends, significant others, strangers, and gangs. 60% of men raped by other men knew their attackers. Male sexual assaults are frequently violent and involve weapons. Often, men reporting muggings or robberies have also been sexually assaulted. Emergency room doctors and police, however, do not typically look for behavioral signs of sexual assault in men.

Some offenders are sexually attracted to children. Some were victims of abuse as children themselves, and some abuse children so they can feel the power and control they do not feel in relationships with adults. Whatever the reason for abuse, it is never the victim’s fault. Sexual feelings or attractions do not motivate a rapist to commit a sexual assault. Instead, a rapist is motivated by a need to dominate, control or humiliate another person in the most personal way. When we consider our society’s definition and standards of what it means to “be a man,” it becomes obvious that male rape is committed to make the rapist feel powerful, not sexually satisfied.

Our culture expects men to never be vulnerable and to be able to protect themselves against any kind of attack. A man who is raped may feel ashamed of himself for “not being a man” because he couldn’t stop the attack. Because he was vulnerable (a “female” characteristic) he may also be afraid that others will question his sexual orientation. Feelings of guilt, shame, isolation and anger are likely to be intensified due to the societal stigma about being a male victim.

If you are male and if you have been victimized, go to a safe place: Call someone you trust for emotional support. Seek medical attention. Because of the high risk of genital and nongenital injury, it is important that you seek medical attention. Valuable evidence of the assault could remain on your body and clothes. Do not eat, drink, smoke, comb your hair, shower, urinate, or defecate before going to the emergency room.

Males who have been victimized may experience some of the following reactions:

• Denial Fear Helplessness
• Dislike of sex Rationalization Flashbacks
• Self-blame Mood swings Depression
• Anxiety Difficulty with intimacy Loneliness
• Numbness Social withdrawal Nightmares

Sexually abused boys often exhibit high-risk behavior, including the use of prostitutes, unprotected sex, a high number of sexual partners, behavior and legal problems, drug and alcohol abuse and suicide. Sexual identity becomes an important issue for males after a sexual assault. Homophobia (fear or hatred of gays and lesbians) keeps many male survivors from coming forward for assistance after an assault. One of the most persistent myths about rape (that it is a sexual act) is doubly damaging to male survivors because it becomes intertwined with homophobia.

A heterosexual survivor may believe the assault means he is gay because of the way his body reacted during the assault. It is important to remember that just because a person’s body reacted sexually, does not mean that he enjoyed the abuse. A homosexual or bi-sexual man may feel that he is to blame for the assault because of his sexual orientation.

A male survivor of sexual assault may need help dealing with this traumatic experience:
Call 1-800-656-HOPE for the local rape crisis center in your area for free, confidential help and support.

(Source: Adapted from Male Sexual Violence Brochure, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.)

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Male Emotional Reaction to Sexual Assault
Like female sexual assault victims, male victims experience many of the same emotional reactions to sexual assault.  Some of those are fear, anger, helplessness, depression, nightmares, social withdrawal, mood swings, anxiety, dislike of sex, difficulty with intimacy, flashbacks. and an overwhelming sense of loss of control over their bodies and themselves.

• numb
  
• disorganized and confused
  
• unable to talk about it
  
• they want to forget it ever
  
• happened
  
• emotionally upset and tearful
  
• very calm
  
• distrustful of others
  

Later, survivors may feel:

• helpless
  
• depressed
  
• angry—suspicious of others
  
• afraid
  
• irritable
  
• guilty
  
• apathetic
  
• alone, isolated
  
• vulnerable
  
• nervous
  
• impatient
  

Some survivors may wonder if they are going crazy because of the strong feelings they have. Survivors may swing from one emotion to another, thinking that they have lost control. It is important to remember that this is a common response to a very stressful event.

Survivors may also have nightmares, insomnia, changes in eating habits, nausea, stomach pains and flashbacks. It may seem that they are reliving the rape all over again. Remember that recovery takes time. It can be helpful for them to talk to someone who will understand and support them through this difficult time.

Survivors may ask “Why me?” or “What did I do to cause this to happen?”. It is important to remember that the responsibility for the rape lies with the rapist. Rape has nothing to do with the way someone looked, walked or dressed. Sexual assault is a crime of aggression, humiliation and power.

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	Male Survivors Of Sexual Assault
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