From the military to college campuses, private homes, and all parts of American society, male rape and sexual assault is not a new phenomenon.
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A few weeks ago, I read a gripping account of a man in his early thirties who recounted his experience of being raped when he was in his mid 20s. He only recently decided to share his story with others. The person in question made the case that he decided not to use his real name, but rather employed a pseudonym as he told his experience. His story was intense, graphic, gripping, dramatic and gut wrenching. My heart ached at the pain and psychological trauma this man endured and kept concealed from others. Indeed, it was a wonder the level of understandable anguish he harbored did not overwhelm him or cause him to resort to more drastic measures such as suicide.
Over the past few years, we have seen a number of cases where men have been the victims of rape. From the military to college campuses, private homes and other avenues of American society.
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Over the past few years, we have seen a number of cases where men have been the victims of rape. From the military to college campuses, private homes and other avenues of American society. In fact, a few years ago in 2012, Trey Malone, a junior at Amherst College and a distinguished student both academically and athletically, took his on life after he was unable to deal with the immense trauma and intense emotions he suffered after being the victim of rape by a co-ed.
After his suicide, it was discovered that Malone’s experience was not an aberration. The previous year in April 2011, Newsweek magazine published a riveting expose of the dirty little secret of male rapes and sexual assaults that were happening with regular frequency in all segments of the armed forces, in particular, the Army. The personal stories of several soldiers were revealed. In November 2013, The Los Angeles Times exposed the harrowing ordeal of an Air Force security guard, Trent Smith, a 20-year-old black male who was pressured into engaging in sexual activity with a male sergeant. The experience left Smith so psychologically distraught that he contemplated suicide several times, according to news and medical reports. Smith has asked Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James to overturn an order that he be medically discharged from service. Each of these powerful stories made national headlines.
What was even more startling, in the case of military assaults, was the callous level of indifference and dismissive attitudes directed to the majority of military victims of such sadistic sexual violations. In fact, in a number of cases, it seemed to be an environment where “blaming the victims” and “exonerating the perpetrators” was the rule of law. On the contrary, Mr. Malone’s death caused the Amherst College community to erupt, resulted in a widespread discussion on the campus and once again brought the issue of male rape and sexual assault to the forefront of national debate.
As these situations indicate, sexual assault is not the sole domain of women or confined exclusively to women. A number of men have also been victimized and violated as well.
Male rape and sexual assault is not a new phenomenon. It is a relatively well-known fact of institutional life.
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These horrific cases have focused an even larger spotlight on the issue of male rape and sexual assault. The fact is that male rape and sexual assault is not a new phenomenon. Indeed, it is a relatively well-known fact of institutional life. What is lesser know is the fact that the majority of people (men and women) have tended to relegate the sexual violation of men as a deviant sort of activity that takes place behind prison walls or tend to be aberrations that happen so infrequently as to be miniscule. Indeed, for some people, the idea of male rape or sexual assault is so difficult to imagine or comprehend that it has been branded as an oxymoron or some deluded psychobabble myth. These are the people who see such a vice as “outlandish.”
Among such other pernicious myths are:
* Men cannot be raped or sexually assaulted
* Male rape is not as serious as female rape
* Men who are sexually assaulted are not real men
* Real men do not allow themselves to be raped
* Boys and men cannot be victims
There are others.
There are a number of reasons for such retrograde and draconian attitudes. One being is the fact that a number of people of both genders have personified an image of men and masculinity as one that is strong, rugged, confident and in many ways, impervious. Thus based on these supposed factors, it is incomprehensible that any individual of the male gender could be the victim of any form of sexual violation. Moreover, if he is, there is some degree of abnormality or deviancy involved in the situation.
He is often seen as a freak of nature, deviant, invited such abuse, possibly or probably bisexual or homosexual, sexually perverted or is a retrograde aberration in one manner or another. The cold, hard reality is that rape and sexual assault is that for many perpetrators of rape and sexual assault, it is about humiliation and power. The fact is that anyone regardless of strength, size or appearance an become the potential victim of rape. Having the XX chromosome does not cause one to be immune from being the victim of sexual assualt.
The most common psychological factors that can affect victims are:
• Sense of self and concept of “reality” are disrupted
• Profound anxiety, depression, fearfulness
• Concern about sexual orientation
• Development of Phobia
• Fear of the worst happening and the sense of having a shortened future
• Withdrawal from interpersonal contact and a heightened sense of alienation
• Problems sleeping, being constantly startled, unable to relax
• Male heterosexual victims may fear that such an assault will make them gay
• Gay male victims may often see such an assault is “punishment” for their sexual orientation
Just to list a few of the traumatic responses that can occur.
In fact, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) many men are often reluctant to report such assaults due to the fear of such public judgment like the aforementioned examples and the fact that their stores will be greeted with ample levels of disbelief and possibly ridicule. It is a tormenting situation to have to endure. Thus, as a result, many men, rather than speak out, often decide to suffer in silence.
On the contrary, men who are victims of such sexual assault should:
* Confront the problem – Do not live in denial. This often only makes things worse.
* Realize you are not alone – There are others who have encountered such trauma.
* Seek a support group – Sharing your experience in a safe space with others can be very effective
* Seek some form of therapy or counseling – Professional help will often help or alleviate the situation
* Get checked for HIV or other possible symptoms – This is crucial to see if you have been infected with a virus
The grim facts are that male rape/sexual assault (like female sexual assault) is a social evil that causes untold amounts of psychological issues — anger, depression, suicidal attempts and thoughts, mental breakdowns, panic attacks and other mental health issues that can traumatize, affect and in some cases, damage its victims for life. Such an act of sexual terrorism must be combated with unrelenting force and those who engage in such sadistic and wicked disregard for the dignity and humanity of others must be must be held accountable and severely punished.
NOTE: For men who have been the victims of rape and sexual assault and wish to seek help, they can contact RAINN at either (202)544-1034 or 1(800)-656-HOPE (4673) or by e-mail at [email protected]
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