There's a Rape Epidemic in America That No One Is Talking About

Chris Anderson was sexually abused by his neighbor when he was a child. Confused about exactly what happened and what it meant, he shut out the trauma of the experience for almost 25 years before finally realizing it was the source of his depression, anxiety and even suicidal thoughts. He went to a retreat for male survivors of sexual assault and finally told his story.

"On average, there is a delay of 20 years between the abuse and first disclosure," Anderson, now 39, said. Many victims never say anything about their abuse — ever. After almost 25 years of silence, Anderson now talks about it a lot as executive director of MaleSurvivor, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing, healing and eliminating all forms of sexual victimization of boys and men. Speaking with PolicyMic, Anderson said part of the reason there's very little coverage or attention paid to male survivors of sexual assault is a staggering lack of disclosure.

Although sexual violence is generally perceived as predominantly a woman's issue, there is, unfortunately, nothing unusual about Anderson's' experience or how long it took for him to disclose it. 

In fact, according to some estimates, around 17% of boys will be sexually assaulted during their childhood or adolescence. Over a lifespan, about 22% of men will experience sexual violence, according to the Centers for Disease Control. And now, new research conducted by the National Crime Victimization Survey suggests 38% of rape and sexual violence incidents were against men. By most standards, this would qualify as a problem of epidemic proportions — so why is barely anyone talking about it?

Silence is a dangerous thing, just ask Chris Anderson. But even when we do talk about male sexual assault, harmful stereotypes and inaccurate myths too often cloud our understanding of the problem. It's time to change the conversation, by debunking these misconceptions and allowing male victims the dignity of their own stories.

Men and boys can't be victims.

This myth is largely the result of traditional definitions of masculinity and the socialization of our boys from an early age. David Lisak is a nationally recognized forensic consultant and founding member of 1in6, a national nonprofit devoted to helping men who were sexually abused as children.

"When a boy [or man] is sexually abused, that abuse is occurring virtually simultaneously with his internalization of his culture's norms about masculinity," Lisak told PolicyMic. "Those norms vary to some degree, but they rarely stray from the prescriptions about toughness, and a renunciation of fear, vulnerability, helplessness — precisely the emotional states that accompany sexual abuse."

There is an added layer to this for men who are abused by women. Jennifer Marsh, vice president of Victims Services at the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) told PolicyMic via email that, "Male victims often feel as though there must be something 'not right' with them if they did not want or enjoy the attack." 

The shame and confusion that results from the disconnect between what victimized boys or men feel and what they think they should feel makes it less likely for them to disclose the abuse, reinforcing the silence and the myth that males cannot be victims. 

Perpetrators are gay and being abused by another man makes you gay.

Despite bigoted opinion to the contrary, multiple studies have found that homosexual men are no more likely than heterosexual men to molest children or perpetrate sexual assault. It is also important to note that a homosexual man who sexually assaults another boy or man is, just as straight man would be, more accurately labeled a pedophile or a rapist — his crimes are not linked to his sexuality but a convergence of many factors that lead to the sexual assault.

There is absolutely no evidence that being sexually assaulted by a man "turns you gay."

Image Credit: Getty

This myth is related to a similar misperception, sometimes known as the "vampire syndrome." Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, many people still believe that survivors of sexual abuse will become perpetrators — in the same way that television and movies tell us people bit by vampires become vampires.

Lisak clarifies that "while childhood trauma — physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and witnessing violence — increases the risk of later violence, that risk is incremental and indirect." Both Lisak and Anderson used the term "tainted" when referring to the undeserved stigma placed on survivors, yet another factor deterring men from disclosing. Anderson also pointed out that the idea is typically gendered: "When was the last time you heard of a 6-year-old girl being victimized and having people say that now she is more likely to become a perpetrator?" 

A man's body can sometimes act independently of his brain. Some survivors of sexual assault have physical responses to stimulation, including erections, and even orgasms. This does not make the experience more consensual or less traumatic. According to Anderson, "Having a physical reaction can be destabilizing and confusing," and perpetrators often use that confusion to take advantage of survivors by saying they liked it or wanted it, making it more difficult for survivors to disclose or to fully and accurately understand what happened.

This myth shares characteristics with the idea — also false — that women who are raped can't get pregnant because their body magically shuts down or that bringing a woman to orgasm during an assault proves she wanted it all along. In fact, science tells us that such arousal or orgasm during an assault is simply the body's response system doing what it does best, that is responding to stimulation, even when that stimulation is unwanted or terrifying.

Women never rape men.

The idea that victims, particularly male victims, actually want to be assaulted is the cornerstone of one of the more insidious myths about male rape, the "hot for teacher" phenomenon that dictates that women never rape men, implying that men are always along for the ride.

Anderson says he's spoken with many men who are sexually abused by women who were told that they should "consider themselves lucky." Many readers are probably familiar with the stereotypical fantasy of the hot teacher secretly seducing her young student. Yet we have an age of consent for a reason.

For far too long, male survivors of sexual victimization have been neglected and passed over during national conversations. "Any person who was sexually victimized is deserving of compassionate support," Anderson said. "Sexual violence is not a male issue or a female issue — it’s a human rights issue."

Resources for Men

 - MaleSurvivor Weekends of Recovery

 - 1in6 Information and Resources

 - RAINN Male Sexual Assault

Resources for Family Members

 - MaleSurvivor Information for Parents and Family

 - 1in6 Friends and Family