Male Sexual Assault

Sexual assault against males is a very important and understated issue in society today. Men can be raped – just like women – by men and women. It is expected that men want to have sex, so the idea that they can be forced is foreign to many people. Unfortunately, this has caused an issue to be under-acknowledged and swept under the rug. Gender violence is not exclusive to women and the law is often biased towards issues of this nature. Men are less likely to report a sexual assault against them, but it makes me wonder – how many men report assault but are not taken seriously? Gender inequality goes both ways and this is just one of the many examples. Luckily, there are some groups that have accepted the challenge of advocating for victims of sexual assault –regardless of their gender.

Here are some links, hopefully we can all become a little more informed.

Pandora’s Project, Support and Resources for survivors of rape and sexual abuse

Rainn, The Nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.

Male Survivor, Overcoming Sexual Victimization of Boys and Men

Rape Victim Advocates…helping victims become survivors

This article written by Oliver Meth, Male Rape Survivors Demand Equal Services focusing on South Africa