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Can a man be raped?
Sexual abuse of men; a neglected reality
Most people ponder in their minds, if a man can be raped. The truth is that a man can be raped, by a man and even by a woman!
“Men are often seen as the perpetrators of sexual violence, but they can also be victims of it…” — Jackson Katz
Men, like women, can be victims of sexual violence. This is one of the truths which the society chooses to neglect and pretend not to see when in reality it is happening right in front of them.
When sexual abuse is spoken about, people always see the female as the victim and the male as the perpetrator, forgetting the fact that 5–10 percent of sexual abuse and rape is committed by women (obviously the remaining percentage is committed by men). Women too can be violent, persuasive, manipulative, in order to get what the want (which includes s*x).
Sexual abuse of men occurs across all genders, sexual orientations, ages, and backgrounds (No group is exempted).
Studies suggest that approximately 1 in 6 men (approximately 667 million men world wide) will experience some form of sexual abuse or assault during their lifetime. Despite this, the societal dialogue around sexual abuse predominantly centers on women, while neglecting men!
The society sees the possibility of a man getting raped by a woman as something ‘impossible’.
Men who are abused often face a myriad of emotional and psychological challenges, as well as societal pressures that hinder their ability to seek help.
“The issue of male victimization is not often talked about, and that is a huge problem. We need to change that because the silence around men’s victimization is part of the larger culture of silence around sexual violence” — Jackson Katz
Why men don’t speak out
There are numerous reasons why men may/do not report sexual abuse or seek help.
