by Kyara Miller

Created on: June 10, 2008

MALE SEXUAL ASSAULT

In the past, the male experience of sexual violence has received relatively limited attention. It is extremely important to increase society's awareness and education on this issue, as male sexual violence is still not widely acknowledged. According to the FBI, one out of eight males has been sexually assaulted during their lifetime.

In order to gain an understanding of the male experience, it is essential to address some of the misconceptions about male survivors of sexual violence. There is great societal denial of the fact that men get sexually assaulted. Chances areexcept for the occasional bad prison jokemost of us don't even hear about the topic of male sexual assault. Here are some myths:

"'Real' men can't be sexually assaulted."

Any man can be sexually assaulted, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, class, size, appearance, ability or sexual orientation. Physical strength may not be relevant when you are caught off guard, shocked, drugged, outnumbered, attacked with a weapon, or betrayed by someone you trusted. Some men may be more vulnerable to being sexually assaulted, such as men in prisons and younger men. Men with disabilities, men of color and men who are gay, bisexual or transgender are also at risk due to discrimination and hate crimes. A recent study in Canada (Sexual Offenses against Children) reports that an estimated one in three boys will be sexually assaulted before the age of 18. Also, in one study involving college men aged 19-24, 30% admitted to being survivors of sexual assault.

"Okay, males can be sexually assaulted, but men are less traumatized or do not suffer to the same extent as female survivors do."

Male survivors are just as likely to experience a range of emotions, like women. Post-traumatic stress; depression; having their experience affect future relationships; are just a few examples.

"I heard males are only assaulted and abused by gay men."

Some male perpetrators are gay, however, the reality is that most perpetrators are heterosexual; the motivation for the assault is power, control, and humiliationnot sex. Females can also be perpetrators of sexual assault, particularly when the survivors are children.

Myth: Males assaulted by another male are, or become, gay as a result of the sexual assault.

The sexual orientation of a male survivor of sexual assault does not change as a result of his experience. Although some men may experience arousal during an assault by another man, it is purely a physiological reaction

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