MALE VICTIMS Ten to eleven percent of rape victims are men (CVS, 1999). Historically, male victims of sexual assault and/or domestic violence have been unrecognized by the mainstream culture and social institutions.  For many men, this meant that they did not have a place where they felt they had permission to safely talk about the abuse they had experienced.  As more male survivors have come forward to speak of their experiences, and more articles are published in newspapers and journals, public recognition of male rape has been to increase and more organizations, victim services agencies included, have begun to offer more services for male survivors. What is male sexual assault? Any unwanted, non-consensual sexual contact is sexual assault.  Any man--gay, straight, or bisexual--can be raped by a woman or by another man.  According to recent studies, the least common type of same-sex male sexual assault is perpetrated on a straight man by a gay man.  Furthermore, it appears that the most common type of male-to-male rape is the rape of a man who is perceived to be gay by a heterosexual man. Common Experiences of Male Victims Confusion regarding masculinity Confusion surrounding issues of sexual identity Exaggerated feelings of guilt if your body responded sexually Fear that others will not believe you Thinking that help is only available for female victims Abuse of drugs/alcohol, caffeine or nicotine Feelings of shame, fear, nervousness, inability to trust, anger, low self-esteem, depression, self-blame, denial, embarrassment, heightened anxiety, mood swings, guilt Flashbacks There are many similarities between women and men in how they are affected by the domestic violence and sexual assault abuse, but there are also differences, most of which are attributable to the different socialization process of men and women.  Men have been raised to always be sexually available and to seek multiple sexual experiences from early adolescence onward.  They have also been taught to be independent, and not to ask for help or to show feelings, especially vulnerability. These facts are compounded by the sparse public awareness of the crimes and lack of resources for male survivors.  This combination of personal and systems response enhances silence about male victimization.  This leaves the male victim often without resources or support.  SEXUAL ASSAULT IS NEVER THE VICTIM'S FAULT! YOU ARE NOT ALONE . . . HELP IS AVAILABLE! BARRIERS TO SERVICE Males are often sexually abused by someone outside the family, but who may be known to them. Males are sexually abused more often by other males. Males are less likely to report the abuse.  Both men and women have difficulty reporting sexual abuse, but men either don't define what happened to them as abuse or they think they should have done something to prevent it.    As a result, they would rather deny what happened than risk being labeled weak or gay. Male sexual abuse often results in physical arousal due to the body's physiology, and although it is an uncontrollable physical response, it is likely that the survivor may be confused about his relationships with other men.  Homophobia is intensified, as is the belief that getting close to another male almost always implies something sexual. Men are likely to be viewed under the impression that they should have been able to stop the abuse, due to their typically larger bodies and social constructs of male strength. Understanding sexual abuse of a young male Child sexual abuse is any sexual behavior an adult or adolescent commits on a child, such as: Sexually touching the child Having the child touch him/her sexually Having the child observe others being abused or touched Masturbating in front of the child Approximately 1 out of 6 boys is abused by age 16 (Hopper, 1998) What are my options? Know that recovery is possible. Seek support through your local crisis center, including Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse. Seek support and comfort from friends and family. See a trained counselor to assist in the healing process.  http://www.1in6.org/ Join a support group for male survivors. Seek medical assistance regarding screenings for S.T.I.'s or HIV/AIDS, and to be treated for any possible physical injuries. Consider reporting to law enforcement.