Victims Rights and Support Organizations

Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

East Tennessee Victims Rights Organization

Shelby County Victim's Assistance Program

You Have The Power

Tennessee Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund

Office For Victim's of Crime (Federal)

National Center For Victims of Crime (Federal)

Victims' Assistance Legal Organization (Nationwide)

National Crime Victims Compensation (Nationwide)

National Organization For Victim Assistance (Nationwide)

 

 

 

 


Male Rape Victims

 

When Men are Raped
Available research indicates that male rape happens far more often than most people recognize. Remember, you are not alone! Anyone, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual identify or physical strength can fall victim to this despicable crime! You did not ask for it, nor are you to blame. Nothing a person wears, does or says makes them deserving of sexual victimization. Remember, something you did allowed you to escape the assault with your life. The fact that you are alive is a testament to your ability as a survivor!  If you have been assaulted, contact the police or someone you trust immediately. Remember that delayed reporting to authorities will make it more difficult to prosecute the attacker. Call the rape crisis hotline (1-800-656-HOPE) and talk about what happened. Unfortunately, sometimes men call the hotline to harass female volunteers so explain your emotional state and let them know your call is legitimate.  It is very important that you get medical attention for your physical injuries and allow medical providers to collect forensic evidence and receive treatment and information about sexually transmitted infections. You need information regarding anonymous HIV testing to be done at a later date.  Please do not bathe, go to the bathroom, brush your teeth or change your clothes; it is important to preserve the physical evidence of the assault. A Rape Crisis Team Member should meet you at the hospital. The hospital examination becomes less intimidating if you have a supportive person with you. You have a right to ask your health care provider for sensitivity and consent to physical touch during the examination. This is a reasonable, normal request. In fact, the negotiation of bodily contact during health care delivery will more than likely, be an ongoing concern for rape survivors throughout their lifetime.  Remember your reactions to the sexual assault will be varied. Fear, guilt, hyper-alertness, depression, anger, panic-attacks, flashbacks, mood swings and confusion about your sexuality are all common reactions to rape. You are not abnormal for experiencing any of them. Talking to a counselor or trusted friend often helps in coping with those emotions.  If possible, find a counselor in your community who has experience working with male survivors of sexual violence. Male survivors of rape will experience a similar range and intensity of trauma as women survivors. For example, both will likely suffer the Rape trauma Syndrome after they are assaulted. Thus, when dealing with men, you should afford them the same respect, empathy and understanding as women. There are however, important differences between male and female rape survivors. Some of those differences are:
Male survivors tend to question their sexual orientation more often than women who have been raped. Sometimes men will experience an erection or ejaculate during their assaults as an involuntary response to physical sensation, intense fear or pain. This may lead the survivor to question whether or not he somehow wanted to be assaulted or that perhaps he may be gay. In a confusion between rape and sex, many men will become homophobic after their assault falsely equating same sex rape with homosexuality.  Unlike women, men are never taught to live with the fear of their own vulnerability to sexual assault. When they are raped they may experience a heightened degree of pure shock and surprise, finding it more difficult to understand what they have gone through. Some men will feel that part of their masculinity has been stripped away and that they have been feminized, or are somehow less manly because they have been sexually violated. Male rapes tend to have a higher rate of weapon use and physical injury, multiple assailants compared to the rape of women.  Men do not have widespread access to the resources, self help books and support groups that women survivors of rape have. Given the stigma surrounding male rape, most men suffer in isolation and attempt to deal with it by themselves.  Rape is defined on a state by state basis. In some states, the rape of men is not defined by law under the same terminology or degree of offense as the rape of women. Ohio’s laws regarding rape and sexual assault deal equally with male or female victims. Some states do not recognize oral or anal penetration as being rape and instead categorize them on other forms of sex crimes (i.e.: sodomy)



Do’s and Don’ts in Dealing with Male Rape Survivors


Do believe the man who reports a rape experience. Remember he has overcome great obstacles to be able to speak about what happened.

Do Tell him he is not alone, that approximately one in fourteen men is a rape survivor.

Do Tell him that the rape was not his fault.

Do Listen non judgmentally. Remember his experience is not any less traumatic because he is a man

But please DO NOT:

Don’t express discomfort with issues and conversations related to sexuality. This might be one of the foremost areas of concern and your uneasiness might cause him not to mention it again.


Don’t panic if he is suicidal. This is a common aftermath of male rape. He will best be calmed by a conversation where he is able to express what he is feeling. Point out to him that he is alive and has survived the assault. Make him aware of the fact that he is not alone and that there are other male survivors out there. He needs to know that it is possible to recover from the trauma


Don’t Tell others. Protecting his anonymity or confidentiality is vital.


Don’t accuse him of being homophobic. If he indicates hatred or fear of gay males. However at an appropriate time, inform him that most men who rape self identify as heterosexual. Rape is to control, humiliate, degrade the victim; it is not for sexual gratification.

 



Resources

Isley, Paul. “Adult Male Sexual Assault in the Community: A literature review and Group Treatment Model.” Rape and Sexual Assault III- A Research Handbook. Ed. Ann Wolpert Burgess. New York: Garland Publishing, 1991. 161-178

Groth, A. Nicholas and Ann W. Burgess. “Male Rape: Offenders and Victims.” American Journal of Psychiatry 137.7 (1980) 806-810


Rochman, Susan. “Silent Victims: Bringing Male Rape out of the Closet.” Advocate 30, July 1991. 38-43

Scarce, Michael. Male on Male Rape: The Hidden Toll of Stigma and Shame. New York: Insight Books 1997.

Scarce, Michael. “Same Sex Rape of Male College Students.” Journal of American College Health 45.4 (1997) 171-173

Stermac, Lana, et al., “Sexual Assault of Adult Males.” Journal of Interpersonal Violence 11.1 (1996) 52-64



*Information provided by Homesafe Rape Crisis Center

 

     

     

     

      Resource Center

       

      For Men Only: for male survivors of sexual assault

       

      Helping male rape victims

       

      To a man who has been sexually assaulted

       

      The National Organization on Male Sexual Victimization


      Stories of Silence
      A documentary by Ethan Delavan.
      This video documentary will cover some of the challenges that face men recovering from boyhood sexual abuse and the triumphs they achieve on the way. (Quick Time needed to view video)

                 

       

       

       

       

       

       

      ©2002 Tennessee Victim Victims of Crime State Coordinating Council