Male Rape Victims - Not as Few as You Might Think

7.08.2012 | By: T. B.

Many people do not realize that there are also male rape victims. This is the article to open your eyes.

Sexually abused men also have to deal with feelings of fear, anger and helplessness. (PhotoXpress)

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Male Rape Victims - Numbers

Experts feel that the usually quoted 10 per cent is only a poor estimate of the actual situation concerning male rape victims. There are two reasons why we do not have a more precise estimate. The first reason is that many studies do not even include the possibility of existence of male rape victims and they are therefore not included in research and the second reason is that male rape victims report these kinds of crimes even in fewer cases than women.

Not only are there no totally credible studies on this matter, there is also a lack of public discussion on male rape victims. There is still the stereotype that men are so big, strong and all together too enthusiastic about sex to even consider the possibility of male rape victims. According to the data gathered so far men are raped by older women (mostly younger men, boys) and other men – these are the most common cases. We should not ignore this, but should be careful not to sensationalise the whole thing. What is important is that we should discuss them in such a way we do not cause more harm than good.

Society looks the other way when it comes to male rape victims

Questions that need answering are:

- How many male rape victims live in silence?

- What are the circumstances of a man being raped?

- How can we lessen the stigma of male rape victims?

- The development of scientific methods which could give us more information on the number of male rape victims.

Male rape victims experience the consequences in much the same way as women do. Anger, sadness, confusion, fear, numbness, the feeling of guilt and helplessness, suicidal thoughts and shame.

There has to be a shift in how society perceives men as possible rape victims. Not only because men also need adequate protection and treatment but also because we have to prove to ourselves as a society that we have moved beyond the caveman times.