Written by Nyla Jackson,Elements Writer
In society, the conversation about rape within the female community is common and steps to decrease the likelihood of it occurring are noticeable through movements such as, Me Too Movement. Although the critical issue is being assessed currently, the issue of male rape is not on the table. Male rape victims make up 38 percent of cases. This number consists of documented cases, most victims take up to three decades to come forward, and some never do. The stigma of masculinity in the modern-day society has been taught and engraved in men since childhood. Young boys grow up to the norms of burring their emotions, to be strong, these lessons are what is told make a “real man”. This is part, yet greatly, responsible for why men refrain from speaking out. When someone is raped, it is common that the victim remains silent to minimize their trauma. One of the well-known psychological consequences of being raped is self-blame. Survivors frequently blame themselves for being assaulted and turned this into an avoidance-based self-coping skill which is a maladaptive skill to avoid the stressor. Victims often feel isolated, shameful, guilty and many other emotions that silence them years after they are assaulted. This is more likely in the male community as the feeling of emasculation overrides their decisions to come forward. Men who have been raped and have not come out about their experience are more likely to be incarcerated. It is reported that victims tend to self-medicate with such substances like drugs and alcohol. A new study has been produce that men are often the victims and women are the perpetrators. An interview within a correction center took place with a few of the cellmates at the facility. Men shared that more sexual assault situations occurred between the guards than it did with their cellmates, and most guards who they reported were female. The survivors repeatedly said during interviews that they had the mindset that if anything like this were to occur to them it would be easy to “fight back”, it is not the case. Another reason that male rape victims stay silent for an unhealthy amount of time is because they do not feel as welcome to come out about their stories. Ignorant comments such as, “It only happens to women” and “It never happens to men, it’s impossible” are one of the greatest faults of why we do not hear about instances like these. An additional reason for their hesitation is due to the lack of support resources for men. Statuary services for men are hard to find and most of the time lack in funding which leads to them being shut down. Not allowing the voices of these victims to be heard or providing support for the injured lead to suicides.
Leaving rape victims in the male community to the standards of what makes a “real man”, pushes them into a corner that they will often find themselves in and their loved ones will be oblivious to. It is crucial that the support for rape victims in the male community is taken just as seriously as it is for the female community. It is documented that most men want to talk about their trauma, they just aren’t being listened to. Just as we are making talking about rape within the female community a safe place and walking them through the process of healing. We should do the same with our men. Rape in men, let’s about it….
References:
“Male Rape Survivors Suffer in Silence. We Need to Help Them Talk | Owen Jones.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 16 Jan. 2020, www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/16/male-rape-victims-sexual-abuse-support.
Photographs. “Six Men Tell Their Stories of Sexual Assault in the Military.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 10 Sept. 2019, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/09/10/us/men-military-sexual-assault.html.
Rosin, Hanna. “Men Are Raped Almost as Often as Women in America. We Need to Talk About This.” Slate Magazine, Slate, 29 Apr. 2014, www.slate.com/human-interest/2014/04/male-rape-in-america-a-new-study-reveals-that-men-are-sexually-assaulted-almost-as-often-as-women.html.