Many
people believe that sexual assault is only committed by men against
women. The majority of sexual assaults are perpetrated by men, but
the fact is that 1 out of every 10 men is a victim of sexual assault.
Victimization can also include childhood sexual abuse and although
this page doesn't discuss this topic you can click on this link
to read more. Because our society fails to see that men can be victims,
men often have a difficult time accepting their own victimization
and delay seeking help and support. This page offers information
about male sexual assault, talks about the barriers male survivors
often face, and offers a list of resources
male survivors can contact to connect with a counselor or other
survivors.
What
is male sexual assault?
Sexual assault is any unwanted sexual contact. It can be committed
by the use of threats or force or when someone takes advantage of
circumstances that render a person incapable of giving consent,
such as intoxication. Male sexual assault can include unwanted touching,
fondling, or groping of a male's body including the penis, scrotum
or buttocks, even through his clothes. Male rape is any kind of
sexual assault that involves forced oral or anal sex, including
any amount of penetration of the anus or mouth with a body part
or any other object.
There
are specific definitions for the degrees of sexual assault. Rhode
Island law defines these as:
1st
Degree Sexual Assault -- sexual penetration of any orifice of
the victim's body by a body part or object, achieved through force,
threat of force or coercion.
2nd
Degree Sexual Assault -- physical contact of a sexual nature without
consent, with a victim's genitals or buttocks or a woman's breasts.
3rd
Degree Sexual Assault -- sexual activity between one party who
is 18 years of age or older and one who is under 16 years of age.
(Sixteen is the age of consent in RI)
Many
people don't take male sexual assault seriously. This is one of
the reasons why male victims have a difficult time reporting what
happened and why the rates of male sexual assault are thought to
be significantly underreported. If a male survivor's friends think
that male sexual assault is a joke, he will feel isolated and afraid
to tell anyone. Sexual assault is a painful, traumatic experience
for any victim.
Who
can be a perpetrator of male sexual assault?
Both men and women can sexually assault men. However, most sexual
assaults against men are committed by other men, who actually identify
themselves as heterosexual. It's important not to jump to the conclusion
that man-against-man sexual assault only happens between men who
are gay. Sexual assault is not about sexual desire or sexual orientation;
it's about violence, control, and humiliation.
What
are some of the feelings a male survivor may experience?
Any survivor of sexual assault may experience the following feelings,
but male survivors may experience these feelings in a different
way:
Guilt
-- as though he is somehow at fault for not preventing the assault
because our society promotes the misconception that men should
be able to protect themselves at all times.
Shame
-- as though being assaulted makes him "dirty," "weak,"
or less of a "real man."
Fear
-- that he may be blamed, judged, laughed at, or not believed.
Denial
-- because it is upsetting, he may try not to think about it or
talk about it; he may try to hide from his feelings behind alcohol,
drugs, and other self-destructive habits.
Anger
-- about what happened; this anger may sometimes be misdirected
and generalized to target people who remind the him of the perpetrator.
Sadness
-- feeling depressed, worthless, powerless; withdrawing from friends,
family, and usual activities; some victims even consider suicide.
If a
male victim became sexually aroused, had an erection, or ejaculated
during the sexual assault, he may not believe that he was raped.
These are involuntary physiological reactions. They do not mean
that the victim wanted to be sexually assaulted, or that the survivor
enjoyed the traumatic experience. Just as with women, a sexual response
does not mean there was consent.
The experience
of sexual assault may affect gay and heterosexual men differently.
Rape counselors have found that gay men have difficulties in their
sexual and emotional relationships with other men and think that
the assault occurred because they are gay. Heterosexual men often
begin to question their sexual identity and are more disturbed by
the sexual aspect of the assault than any violence involved.
What
should I do if I was assaulted?
If you are a male survivor of sexual assault, remember:
It
was not your fault that you were assaulted.
You
are not alone.
You
have the right to do any or all of these things:
Ask
for support.
Talk with someone you trust and/or get help by calling one of
these sexual assault resources. You can ask to speak with a
male or female counselor. Even if they don't have male staff
on call, almost all rape crisis centers can make referrals to
male counselors who are sensitive to the needs of male sexual
assault survivors.
Sexual
Assault and Harassment Crisis Support 401.863-6000
Crisis support and referrals regarding sexual assault, sexual
harassment, obscene phone calls, or abuse in a relationship.
Contact is through Psychological Services. Give any first name
and a phone number and the person on call will call you back.
Confidential or if you wish, anonymous.
Sexual
Assault & Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-494-8100
If you or someone you know needs help because of a sexual assault
or an abusive relationship, call this hotline 24 hours a day.
Counselor-advocates provide confidential support and are available
to accompany victims of sexual assault to the hospital and police
station. Ongoing counseling and support groups are available. (This hotline is specific to Rhode Island. Contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE if you need help in another state.)
Rape,
Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) 1-800-656-HOPE
Call this national hotline to be automatically connected to
the nearest rape crisis center. It is available 24 hours a day
and is confidential.
Seek
medical attention.
Even if you think that you do not have any physical injuries,
you should still have a medical examination. Medical providers
will, with your permission, collect physical evidence to be
used if you decide to prosecute. They will also discuss the
possibility of sexually transmitted infections and encourage
you to get tested. Call Health Services at 401.863-3953 to make
an appointment with a medical provider.
Report
it to the authorities.
If you want to report the crime, notify Campus Police and Security
at 401.863-4111. Reporting the crime can help you regain a sense
of personal power and control and can also help to ensure the
safety of other potential victims.
Click
here
for more information for any victim of sexual assault.
How
can I help a male friend who has been sexually assaulted?
Take
it seriously.
Ask
him what you can do to support him.
Let
him know that it was not his fault.
Let
him know he is not alone.
Find
out about resources that are sensitive to male victims and let
him know his options.
Tell
him that help is available and encourage him to call a rape crisis
hotline.
Don't
pressure him to do certain things. He needs to know that he has
choices and that you support him.
For more
general information on how to help a friend, click here.
(Adapted from Planned Parenthood's Teenwire, "He
Didn't Ask for it Either," and National Center for Victims
of Crime Infoline, "Male Rape.")
Links
you can use
This page is from the Counseling and Mental Health Center at the
University of Texas at Austin and offers another source of information
for male survivors of sexual assault.
The Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project is a grassroots, nonprofit
organization providing community education and direct services for
clients. GMDVP offers shelter, guidance, and resources to allow
gay, bisexual, and transgender men in crisis to leave violent situations
and relationships.
Day One is the RI resource for victims of sexual assault and their families. The site provides information on a range of topics, including sexual assault, child sexual abuse, internet safety and sex offender management. Day One offers individual and group counseling for survivors of sexual abuse, child sexual abuse and for their families.
This project serves lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and HIV-positive
victims of violence, and others affected by violence, by providing
free and confidential services enabling them to regain their sense
of control, identify and evaluate their options, and assert their
rights.
SPR is a nonprofit human rights organization that seeks to end sexual
violence against men, women, and youth in all forms of detention.
Founded by survivors of prisoner rape over twenty years ago, SPR
has worked to shed light on the dangers of sexual abuse in prison
and helped survivors to access resources and connect with one another.
Stop It Now provides information on childhood sexual abuse, answers
commonly asked questions and provides resources and related links.
Disclaimer: Health Education is part of Health Services at Brown University. Health Education maintains this site as a resource for Brown students. This site is not intended to replace consultation with your medical providers. No site can replace real conversation. Health Education offers no endorsement of and assumes no liability for the currency, accuracy, or availability of the information on the sites we link to or the care provided by the resources listed. Health Services staff are available to treat and give medical advice to Brown University students only. If you are not a Brown student, but are in need of medical assistance please call your own health care provider or in case of an emergency, dial 911. Please contact us if you have comments, questions or suggestions.
