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• Archived Blog Post

  Date / Time: 10/2/2009 5:46 PM UTC

  Four Myths About Male on Male Rape
  

   

  Myth 1
  Men are not raped.

  We tend not to teach our boys about the possibility of male on male rape. Instead, we are more focused in protecting our girls from being violated by boys. Belief in this myth means that men are not prepared for the possibility of rape. In the event that a man is raped, he is not only in shock but he also has to deal with shame from being a target—If men are not raped, then there must be something wrong with me that makes me a target.

   

  Myth 2
  A woman cannot rape a man.

  While approximately 97% of male rapes are committed by men, a small percentage of women rape men. Belief in myth two means that, not only is a man is less likely to report being raped, when the perpetrator is a woman he is even less likely.
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  Myth 3
  Only gay men are raped.

  Rape is a crime that is committed because the perpetrator wants to experience violent power and dominance over another human being. Often men who self-identify as heterosexual rape other men because to succeed requires more violence. Belief in myth three means that straight men are less prepared for the possibility of rape, because they think they are not at risk. In addition, straight men, are less likely to report a rape because of homophobia.
  

   

  Myth 4
  Male rape survivors can recover quickly.

  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common reaction to trauma. Summarized, long after the trauma, a person experiences intrusive memories, reactions, and flashbacks that affect the quality of life. This is true regardless of gender. Belief in myth four means that men who have been raped are more likely to feel pressure to ignore their feelings and 'get over' the rape.

   

   

  According to a National Violence Against Women Survey, 93,000 men are raped annually.

  • Tags:
  • male
  • violence
  • youth
  • aggression
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