Men as Victims of Rape - Essay Example

Men as victims of rape Introduction It is apparent that the issue of rape has for many decades been a concernof women. Whenever this issue is raised, many people only view it as an act committed on women by men. In fact, many organisations have been formed to defend women’s rights especially on issues related to sexual harassment by men. One of these issues is rape. Severe penalties have been developed in various laws in regard to defend women against rape. Nevertheless, it has emerged that there has been some debate on including or categorizing men as victims of rape (Lea, Lanvers, & Shaw, 2003). Although many people may view this assertion as vague, there are some different and varying deliberations on how men undergo difficult times as victims of rape. The worst of it has been on the revelations of how the society would view this issue given that in the wider society, culture has it that men are not allowed to discuss such matters in public. In fact, in some instances, men fear reporting instances of rape with the consequence of being turned against and being the offender instead of being the victims. Instances of male rape Some of the common instances of men’s rape are between men and men. This is evidenced by the increased instances of homosexuality. Nevertheless, deliberations have been on how to define men rape in the context of events that may have transpired during the incidence. However, just like in women, men’s rape is characterized by assault and use of force and being forced to perform the sexual act without ones consent. When this happens, a man, just like a woman feels diminished and less a man (Lea, Lanvers, & Shaw, 2003). In fact, to some extent, when men undergo rape, they have a feeling of fear that they end up being gay. There are also concerns that this act may affect their sexual orientation in future. In addition, the worst thing comes in when a man feels that the connection between him and women has been eroded. They get scared even to approach women. In another dimension, for those men that become victims of rape, they have problems having sexual intimacy with their wives. This greatly affects their marriage and may end up breaking up. This becomes worse when men victims stomach these deeds instead of sharing with their spouses. In addition, there have been instances of men’s victim developing avoidance emotions. They tend to kind of develop some psychological problems that keep them away from other people. Some have developed some assault traits that make them aggressive even to their own relatives and friends. In this regard, unless the individuals are helped through psychological interventions, they may end up developing some complex conditions that may affect their lives (Kanyemba, 2013). In fact, some institutions have been developed in order to handle both men and women cases of sexual assaults. However, there has been a big challenge on how to prove men’s case. Nevertheless, some legislation has been formulated in order to deliberate on how to go about men’s rape cases. In Washington, for example, the government has been expanding the definition of rape in order to accommodate men for the first time. This has been a concern for a long time because, for instance, FBI has always defined rape in the context of women whereby they consider it as a forcibly and against her will. Some of the considerations that have been reviewed include the fact that over 60% of rape and sexual assaults remain unreported, and among them, studies have documented that at least 10% of these cases covers men as victims of rape. With various human rights bodies coming up in order to defend various rights including men’s rights, various concerns have been raised in regard to fighting for homosexuals and lesbians. In light with this, the context of placing men’s rape in the limelight of law has increased. This is arguably true because as many men get involved in homosexuality, they concentrate on satisfying their sexual hunger by turning against their male counterparts. Nevertheless, most of the men victims go silence because of the discrimination they fear they would get from the society given that they law is not even clear on how to articulate on men as victims. Factors that contribute to male sexual assault Alcohol consumption It is apparent that alcohol plays a key role in increasing risks of men falling victims of rape and other sexual assaults. In fact, studies have indicated that alcohol consumption not only contribute to the risk of sexual assaults to men, but also as a risk for men facing physical assault. In addition, male who go on drinking have even fallen victims of several assaults by women since they are not able to protect themselves. It is also apparent that people tend to hide their ill deeds when they are drunk. That is when many people would go on drinking with intentions of taking advantage of their victims while they are not sober (Kanyemba, 2013). To some extent, some victims fear speaking out about these cases since they carry a double strategy of being victims of sexual assaults and drinking misconducts. Lifestyle and demographic factors Studies have documented that different lifestyles act as catalysts for increasing risks for men as victims of rape and other sexual assaults. For example, various high school practices have put many students at risks of being rape victims. This goes in line with the conduct they emulate from peers, and which rapists feel attracted to such students. In addition, use of drugs and other substance abuse has also been cited to have contributed significantly on increasing the risk for men as victims of rape and other sexual assaults. In fact, it is apparent that when people are under the influence of drugs, they may consent to acts of sex though it is only because they are under the influence of drugs, something that they come to regret about when they are sober. Further, there have been deliberations in regard to athletes being victims of rape because of their exposure to various matters that rapists and other sexual assaulters consider priority in such fields of profession. In addition, many cases of men sexual assaults have been reported in prisons and other correction institutions. These cases, however, have been attributed to aggression and other antisocial behaviors by prisoners. Although some victims may have some intensions of reporting the incidences, they fear intimidation from their counterparts. Some of the rapists in prison serve life sentences as a result of grievous crimes including murder. Gender, ethnicity and health Instances of rape for men have been reported to be high in some races and ethnicity, than in others in some parts of the world. For example, instances of sexual assaults have been reported to be high for non-Hispanics in comparison to Hispanics. This is a clear indication that ethnicity has played a chief role in establishing the increase in the risk for men. Perhaps, this goes in line with domination of one race to the other, and acts as a means of prove supremacy over the victim’s race. In another dimension, persons with mental health disorders stand to have higher risks of sexual assault victims. Rationale for men’s rape Much of the concerns about rape are concentrated on women as victims. Nevertheless, there are various invisible issues that revolve around rape especially when men are considered to the victims of rape. This is so because most of these issues are intensified by the fact that stigma is attached to the crime especially if the victim is a man. In another dimension, the situation that faces men victims today is no difference from how the women victims of rape were some decades back (Kanyemba, 2013). In fact, the biggest share of the stigma is in relation to men as victims of rape being categorized in the category of homosexual, and this gives little thought about the possibility of all men being potential victims of rape. Nevertheless, literatures on male rape are limited with very little scholarly work in this area having been done. Again, this area of study has not been widely covered in regard to very little cases of male rape being reported. In fact, much of what is known about male rape has always been emanating from prisons. Any other reported case about male rape was viewed as violent outgrowth of the homosexual subculture. However, the little research that has been carried out on male rape has reviewed that a larger percentage is as a result of men trying to prove masculinity. In most cases, where the instance of male rape is reported, there tends to be a sense of peer pressure mostly developing from male delinquents, who are at pressure to prove masculinity. In this regard, some studies have carried out research on causes of male rape (The Huffington Post, 2013). It has emerged that violence and aggression in emerging deviant subcultures has a greater role to play in facilitating test for masculinity through rape. Nonetheless, there has been a setback for the society to contemplate on the issue of male rape and other sexual assaults. For example, in most instances of male rape that have been reported in prison institutions, prison officials have always denied such incidences taking place because society has been dominate by the view that men cannot be forced to do things against their will. In so thinking, the issue of male rape has been viewed as being a homosexual in nature. In another dimension, there have been deliberations on the allegations of men being rape victims of women. In Zimbabwe, for example, there have been several cases of rape that have been reported by men claiming that they have fallen victims to women (Natabaalo, 2013). It has been reported that most of the reported cases has taken place at a gun point whereby men are forced into surrender by use of force. Surveys on male rape Men who are coerced or forced into engaging in oral and anal intercourse or any other kind of nonconsensual sexual activity are victims of male rape. American’s national centre for victims of crime highlights that young boys under the age of ten and in their mid teens are most likely to be victims of male rape that older males. The national centre for victims held that the average age of male victims is seventeen years of age. Male rape often entails penetration of a victim’s mouth or anus with a penis, other body part or object (Rose, 2013). The sexual assault can also take the form of gang rape, which is widespread in cases concerning male victims than those relating to females. Perpetrators of male rape are more likely to insist multiple sex actions and are likely to exhibit weapons as a threat to force their victims into submission. Peterson and Golden (2010) hold that male rapists use dangerous weapons on males than those who assault females. As such, they infer that male rape victims face higher risks of physical injury and that their injuries are serious than those suffered by female victims of rape. Forcing sex on a man is a crime in different states and jurisdictions across the globe, it is not considered as rape, but it is categorized under the wider context of sexual assault. The current laws on rape are gender biased as most tend to define rape as a crime against women only. However, with the increase of sexual assault and forced rape against men, many states are starting to recognize that men can be victims of rape. In a survey carried out in 2005 on crime victimization in America, 176,540 sexual assaults were reported involving women, and 15,130 incidences involving males were reported. The survey further highlighted that thirty percent of cases were perpetrated by an intimate partner while 44 percent of the assault was perpetrated by a friend or an acquaintance. Another survey carried out in 2007 on 13.8 million Americans, 11 percent of females and 3 percent of males reported having encountered forced sex at least once in their lifetime. A report by the United States bureau of justice statistics in 2000 highlights that the male’s encounter the greatest sexual assault at the age of four. One of the most common misconceptions by the public with regards to male rape is that male rape is a homosexual crime. Although rape is employed as a hate crime against gay men, is has been established that both the victims and the perpetrators are not necessarily gay (Gregory & Lees, 2012). Legislation on male rape Following the above statistics and thousands of cases that end up unreported, it is clear and evident that male rape is a subject that has been in existence, only that its legislation has not taken strong legal force as the case of women rape. Most countries like the United Kingdom, Australia and United States and Canada are executing amendments to incorporate male rape in the definition of rape. It is only recently that non consensual anal penetration has become assimilated into the rape legislation. This is a development that continues to raise controversies among feminists who have highlighted that the change dampens an analysis of the law in gender particular terms. The criminal justice and public order act 1994 that came into enforcement in 1995 broadened the definition of rape to incorporate non-consensual penetration of the anus as well as the vagina (Gregory & Lees, 2012). The non consensual of anal and vagina penetration carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Initially, male rape was classified under indecent sex assault that was punishable by ten years imprisonment. Anal penetration on women has been categorized as a criminal offence in itself regardless of whether there was consensus or not. This implies that consensual anal sex was legitimized for the first time. The month of June in 1995 marked a chronological breakthrough was made following the first sentence for male rape under the new law in London. Other countries followed Britain’s move, where Australia and New South Wales recognized male rape in 1981while Sweden acknowledged male rape in 1984 (Greenberg, Bruess & Conklin, 2010). Other countries that have acknowledged male rape are such as Holland, Canada, Germany and the majority of United States’ states. United States currently defines rape in a context that incorporates male victims as non consensual penetration of the vagina or the anus using a hand, penis, or other object (Rose, 2013). Obama’s administration has been very vocal with regards to the aspect of rape. The government is expanding its definition of rape to include males for the first time when quantifying the number of victims. Proponents and supporters of inclusion of male rape in the definition of the term rape hold that the inclusion is significant. The reason is that lawmakers and policymakers utilize crime statistics to distribute resources for deterrence and victim support. Valerie Jarrett; the white house adviser termed the legal change as momentous as it incorporates men, and also includes other kind of rapes on women apart from that by physical force. The FBI has described rape since 1929 as the carnal acquaintance of a female, compulsorily against her consent. The amended categorization incorporates both genders of the victim or attacker and includes occurrences in which the injured party is incompetent of giving approval as a result of influence from alcohol, drug or age. Physical resistance is not required. President barrack Obama held that the definition of rape has to be changed to also include male victims of rape by female rapists. The center for disease control has to include all instances in which males are forced to penetrate a woman as this amounts to rape. The definition has to be comprehensive enough to take into consideration every time a male feels he is obliged into unwanted sex with physical force and threat of violence to be rape. England and Wales have also seen an overhaul of sexual offences legislation in the 21st century. Before this reform, the legislation on sexual offenses was founded on law implemented in the 20th and 19th century. This legislation was immensely outdated and unsuitable for the 21 century when incidences of male rape are rampant. Several amendments have been made on sexual offenses including male rape and marital rape. Nevertheless, the changes have generated confusing laws as diverse Acts have to be accessed to decode where the law stands on any given matter. In United States of America for instance, the new definition will not change state or federal state laws and will not change prosecutions and charges (Golden & Peterson, 2010). England’s home office recognized that these piecemeal changes have resulted in a patchwork quilt of provisions. This is coupled by the verity that the previous sexual offenses law was plagued by improper language and discrimination, which may be construed as infringing human rights legislation. Beginning with a promise by the labor government that was elected in 1997, the government started a comprehensive review process in 1999 to aid male victims of sexual offences get justice. The comprehensive review was known as the sexual offences review that was followed by the sexual offences bill (Lea, Lanvers, & Shaw, 2003). This was culminated by the sexual offences Act in 2003. The sexual offences Act stipulates the conditions necessary for securing a conviction of rape. The Act highlights that the sexual perpetrator committed acts that meet the amended definition of rape, and that the perpetrator knew that the victim was not approving. Conclusion The new definition of rape to include men continues to raise concerns and raises questions as to whether other kinds of sexual coercion like oral sex or penetration with an object should be included in the definition of rape. In conclusion, male rape is a vice that has been in existent for several decades. Although it was not initially recognized as a legal issue in many places around the globe, the frequency of male rape cases have prompted many countries to adopt legislation that incorporates male rape into the law. The developed countries like Canada, England, United States, and Australia are among the nations that have put into practice the new definition of rape to incorporate male. Reference list: Golden, R.N. & Peterson, F.L., 2010. The Truth about Rape. NY: Infobase Publishing. Greenberg, J., Bruess, C., Conklin, S., 2010. Exploring the Dimensions of Human Sexuality. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Gregory, J. & Lees, S., 2012. Policing Sexual Assault. London: Routledge. Kanyemba, M., 2013. Male rape cases: are they real. Accessed on 31 May 2013 from. Lea, S. J., Lanvers, U. & Shaw, S., 2003. Attrition in rape cases; developing a profile and identifying relevant factors, British Journal of Criminology, 43, 583-599. Natabaalo, G., 2013. Male rape survivors fight stigma in Uganda. Accessed on 31 May 2013 from< http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/04/2013411111517944475.html>. Rose, K, 2013. President Barack Hussein Obama: Recognize The Existence Of Male Rape Victims. Accessed on 31 May 2013 from< https://www.change.org/petitions/president- barack- hussein-obama-recognize-the-existence-of-male-rape-victims>. The Huffington Post, 2013. The psychology of male on male rape. Accessed on 31 May 2013 from< http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-raj-persaud/male-on-male- rape_b_3229036.html>. Read More