Male Rape 

• Men get raped by other men.
• Rapists who rape men are heterosexual in 98% of the cases.
• Both homosexual and heterosexual men get raped.
• Men get raped in all parts of society (not just in prisons).
• Men are less likely to report rape.
• Most of us grow up thinking that rape happens only to women.
• If male rape survivors think so too, they may feel isolated and alone.
• If people in our community believe that this may be true, they may further this sense of isolation on the part of male rape survivors.

Men usually share many of the same feelings of female sexual assault survivors. They may feel:

• guilty
• powerless
• concern regarding their safety
• denial
• shock
• anger

There are, however, special issues that may be difficult for men:

• concerns about sexuality and/or masculinity
• medical procedures
• reporting to law enforcement
• telling others
• finding resources and support

Myths about men and rape

No matter what was said or done or worn, no one "asks for" or deserves to be assaulted. Sexual assault has nothing to do with someone's present or future sexual orientation. Sexual assault is a crime of violence and power, not of lust or passion.

Unfortunately, many doctors, nurses and law enforcement officers do not realize that men as well as women may be sexually assaulted. This may affect the way they treat men who have been raped. Sometimes a stereotyped view of masculinity, rather than the physical assault of the crime becomes the focus of the medical exam or law enforcement investigation.

Two myths about homosexuality may also affect the way men are treated. Many people wrongly believe that only gay men get raped. Many people also believe that assaults against men are commmitted only by gay men. Both of these are myths, not facts, but they may affect the way male rape survivors are treated, and/or how male survivors feel about the assault and themselves afterwards.

What We Can Do

• Recognize that men and boys can and will be sexually assaulted.
• Be aware of the biases and myths concerning sexual assault.
• Recognize that the harmful sex-role stereotypes which create narrow definitions of masculinity, as well as lies about homosexuality, make it difficult for male survivors to disclose about being raped.
• As individuals and as a community we must work to combat and challenge these attitudes.
• It is important that male rape survivors have support around them and that they be able to make their own decisions about what course of action to take.