About Male Sexual Violence
Male sexual violence. Men experience sexual violence at higher rates than people realize or talk about. Often times these assaults occur before the age of 18 and the boy/man knows his attacker.
Who commits sexual assault against men and boys?
More than 90% of child and teenage survivors are familiar with the person who abused or assaulted them. For adult survivors of rape, 80% report knowing the offender. Those who commit sexual violence may rely on physical force or use coercion to carry out their actions.
Does being assaulted impact sexual orientation?
There is no connection between sexual assault and a person’s sexual orientation—either the survivors or the perpetrators. Sexual abuse or assault cannot cause someone’s sexual orientation.
It’s normal for some male survivors to question their sexuality after experiencing abuse or assault. These feelings can be especially common if the individual had an erection or ejaculated during the incident. These bodily responses happen automatically and are not something a person can control.
In some cases, offenders—particularly adults who abuse boys—may manipulate these involuntary reactions to enforce silence, using statements like, “You know you wanted it.” If you’ve been sexually assaulted or abused, you are not to blame. An erection does not imply consent, and ejaculation does not excuse or justify the assault.
Source: https://rainn.org/articles/sexual-assault-men-and-boys
The Facts
- Men can be raped as adults and sexually abused as children.
- Men experience the same symptoms women do after being sexually abused.
- It is just as important for a man to receive counseling for sexual trauma as it is for a woman.
- Sexual abuse does not cause homosexuality.
- Being abused as a child does not mean you will grow up to be a perpetrator.
What can be unique for male survivors
- Men may not seek counseling/support as often as women, especially for issues of sexual abuse.
- Belief in societal myths that men always want sex and would never refuse a sexual encounter.
- Agreement with societal notions that early sexual experiences are a ‘normal’ part of a boy’s life.
- Males may question their sexual orientation if they were sexually abused by a man.
- Men may experience confusion and anger over loss of control of their body and any physical response they had to the assault.
Additional resources for men
- Lew, M. (2004). Victims no longer: Men recovering from incest and other child sexual abuse (2nd Ed.). New York, NY: Harper Collins Press.
- www.malesurvivor.org
- https://1in6.org/
More information: Sexual Violence Among Men and Violencia Sexual Contra Hombres.
