Each year, more than 84,000 boys and men are sexual violence or abuse. According to the charity Survivors UK. It assists those affected by sexual assault.
Safeline is a non-profit organization working to stop sexual assault and provide support to those affected.
Chief Executive Neil Henderson estimates that nearly one-in-six has been sexually assaulte or sexually assaulte. Yet, many people face obstacles when they try to seek help or can’t get help in the first place.
The effects of the pandemic
The recent lockdowns have created additional problems for those who need assistance following sexual assault. Staff must respond swiftly to transfer traditional face-to-face services to remote services while providing a safe and secure service.
While most of those were receiving their assistance through video or phone calls during lockdowns. A small few chose to suspend their service until face-to-face meetings were able to resume.
The impact of television
Henderson says it’s positive to witness more victims of rape from males reach out to Safeline to seek help. He attributes programs on television that show the real-life consequences of sexual assault to bringing awareness.
The 2022 BBC One Drama Four Lives was a three-part show which focused on the life of ‘Grindr ‘ killer Stephen Port. Henderson claims that they noticed an increase of 50% in calls to the Safe line male helpline within the week following the show premiered.
There’s also been a big rise in the number of people reporting they’ve been sexually abuse by someone they met through a dating app or site – and more needs to be done to protect people in this area.
Affairs in casual encounters
In the years that ended the months of March 2017 and March 2020. The Crime Survey for England and Wales ( CSEW) assesse victims who were assaulted sexually through rape or other means before at least 16.
It revealed that more than 50% of men (43 percent) were attacke by a stranger as well as women had a higher likelihood than males to have a connection with the victim.
Concerning the abuse of a partner, Male abuse victims are more likely to claim they believed the perpetrator(s) were female than male victims (61.0 percent versus 1.0 percent). However, these figures must be taken cautiously due to the large number of people who were unable to respond.
These figures also reveal that women (81.3 percent) have a higher likelihood to inform someone than males (50.8 percent), and 43.7 percent of males are likely to inform anyone they know of the claims.
Do men struggle to seek assistance after a sexual assault?
The charity Survivors UK says that the following elements are preventing survivors from reaching out to support:
- Stigma.
- Shame.
- Vulnerability.
The charity says that stereotypes about masculinity are often a barrier to men engaging in advocacy following sexual assault. The belief that trauma is reserve for women and that aggression is reserved just for men can be harmful to both genders.
How likely are gay people to make a report?
The Survivors UK report also revealed that 1 of 4 bisexual and gay males had experienced an experience of sexual intimacy in which they’ve agreed to something which later changed into something they didn’t accept.
Additionally, one in five reported that they had decided to have sex with one person. However, it turned out to involve another person without their permission.
A little less than 50% of bisexual and gay males reported being victimize through sexual harassment. However, 83% of them stated that they wouldn’t say the incident to the police.
Men who identify as LGBTQ+ face additional barriers in reaching out to others, such as:
- Untrusting authorities.
- Concerns about anonymity.
- Not being ‘out’ yet.
- Beware of being used to justify their sexuality.
The chief executive officer of Survivors UK, Alex-Feis Bryce, is a former victim of sexual assault. He claims that his personal experiences with sexual violence in a gay space have profoundly impacted him.
“I’ve also always had the sense – perhaps my imagination or some projected internalized self-blame or shame – that many of the gay and bi men who I’ve told about what happened to me reacted in a way that suggests that they saw experiencing sexual violence as, in some way, a rite of passage or an inevitability for men who have sex with men,” the man said.
The consequences of abuse
Certain emotions that a man can experience after sexual abuse may lead to the reluctance or apprehension of seeking assistance. This could include:
- The emotional shock.
- Disbelief or denial.
- Embarrassment.
- Anxiety.
- Anger.
- Physical stress.
Myths and myths
The widespread misconceptions about sexual violence in men can have a profound influence on those who wish to express their opinion.
The myths surrounding sexual abuse by men are not just a barrier to men from seeking help but can also affect the perceptions of those who share their experiences.
The myths that are cite by:
Sexual assault is not a crime for men.
Sexual assault can occur to any person regardless of age, sexuality, or gender identity. Every sexual act with which an individual isn’t happy constitutes assault.
Being sexually assaulte can make an individual homosexual.
The evidence isn’t there that a person who has been sexually assaulte or raped alters his sexual orientation.
Women shouldn’t abuse men.
Females can sexually assault males. Anything sexual you’ve not agreed to is considere assault.
The victim is accountable for their actions if they drink or use drugs.
The truth is that sexual violence is never the fault of the victim. Nobody deserves to be sexually assaulte regardless of how a victim behaved in the past before an incident. If they didn’t express consent to it, then it’s wrong.
Ejaculation or ejaculation in the course of sexual abuse indicates that a victim consented.
The body naturally reacts to some situations in ways that you may not be anticipating. So, having an erection or a sexy moment during sexual assault doesn’t suggest that the person has enjoyed or agreed to it.
But, many of the perpetrators utilize these physical responses of the victim’s body to make them feel helpless. Myths and misconceptions about the sexual abuse of men can make the reality of being a survivor a difficult one. Increasing isolation and maintaining stigma,” SurvivorsUK states.
Where can you get help after male sexual abuse?
There are a variety of helplines available for assistance and support that is confidential. They are accessible to all affected by sexual assault or abuse, such as family members or relatives of the victims.