Regardless as to what one may think, sexual assault does happen to boys and men.

Ø      92,748 men are raped each year in the U.S.

Ø      1 in 6 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime

Ø      1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted by the age of 16

Ø      9% of all rape victims are boys

Ø      83% of abused boys are under the age of 12;
26% are under the age of 6

Ø      25-35% of child sexual abuse victims are males

Who Sexually Abuses Boys?

• 85% of the time, the boy knows his abuser
• The perpetrator can be a father, mother, stepparent, uncle, neighbor, spiritual leader, camp counselor

Who Sexually Assaults Men?

• 60% of the men raped by other men know their attackers

• The perpetrator can be a friend, significant other, stranger, a gang

• Sexual assault of men are frequently violent and involve weapons

What Are Some Common Symptoms That a Male Sexual Assault Survivor May Experience?

·        Guilt

·        Anxiety

·        Depression

·        Interpersonal Isolation

·        Shame

·        Low Self-esteem

·        Self-destructive Behavior

·        Post-traumatic Stress Reactions

·        Poor Body Imagery

·        Sleep Disturbances

·        Anorexia or Bulimia

·        Relational and/or Sexual Dysfunction

·        Addictive Behaviors: (Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, Gambling, Overeating, Overspending, Sexual Obsession or Compulsion)

·        Confusion Over Sexual Identity

What Are the Effects of Being Abused by a Woman?

• In the case where an older female assaults a younger male, it may be tempting to dismiss such an experience as wanted sexual initiation, but the reality is that the impact of female-on-male assault can be just as damaging. –Green H.O.

• As a result of being sexually abused by a woman, a man may be confused in relationships with other women. They may struggle in intimate relationships over issues such as trust, control and power. –Nice & Forrest p.15

• If you are gay, you may wonder if your sexual identity is a result of your abuse. –Nice & Forrest p. 15

What are the Effects of Being Abused by a Man?

• Men who have been raped or sexually abused by other men often question their own sexual identity. It is important to remember that a male-on-male assault says absolutely nothing about the victim’s sexual orientation before the assault, nor does it change his orientation afterwards. –Green H.O.
  
  

• Other men may experience extreme homophobia or feelings of anger towards gay people because of their abuse, however, it is not accurate to assume that men who sexually assault other men are gay. –Nice &Forrest p.18
  
  

• Men who have been abused by other men may question their own masculinity, feeling that they are inherently weak, inadequate and/or powerless over their own life. –Nice &Forrest P. 18

Where is there a Prevalence of Male Sexual Abuse?

PRISONS:

v     The highest frequency of same sex rape occurs in jails and prisons

v     360,000 males are sexually assaulted behind bars each year in the U.S. alone. Of this number, at least 2/3 are repeatedly raped and often gang raped on an almost daily basis, resulting in millions of rapes committed annually. –Scarce p. 36

MILITARY:

v     Rape amongst the ranks of military men produces many of the same results as prison rapes, including a great deal of denial, abuse of power over others and a general lack of recognition of the violence outside the organization. –Scarce p. 44

ATHLETICS:

v     The all-consuming goal of most sports revolves around dominance, status, and the acquisition of power that is taken by force from others. These are also central elements associated with violence, and sometimes the conflict with in sports organizations and athletic teams erupts in sexual violence between members of the all male group. –Scarce p. 49

FRATERNITIES:

v     Many fraternity initiation rituals seek to debase pledges by forcing them into sexually subordinate and feminizing roles –Scarce p. 52

v     These rituals often involve acts of violence ranging from rape to torture. –Scarce p. 52

RUNAWAYS:

v     38% of adolescent boys who run away from home are sexually abused. –King p.40

IN THE HOME OR EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENTS:

v     Boys are often sexually assaulted in their own home by family members or friends, as well as in their everyday environment, (parties, school, church).

Why Does This Happen?

• Virtually every study indicates that men rape other men out of anger or in attempts to overpower, humiliate, and degrade their victims rather than out of passion, lust, or sexual desire. –Scarce p. 17

• Sexual Assault is NEVER done out of love.

 How Can Male Survivors Get Help?

• The healing process starts with you- that is, it is your decision to seek help and break the silence. You have the right not to be abused again. Claiming your right to heal will not take away your pain all at once, but your pain will undoubtedly ease as you continue with the healing process. –Nice & Forrest p.27

• Every community has its own services for survivors of sexual violence, including local or campus based rape crisis centers. Most of these places have on-site counselors trained in working with male survivors or can refer men who have been assaulted to professionals in the area who can help. –Green H.O.

REMEMBER:

o       You are powerless over your past, but not your present or future.

o       Help is available to you.

o       You have the right to heal.

o       You can do with the help of other that which you cannot do alone. – Nice & Forrest p. 28