Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Voluntary Agencies’ Responses to, and Attitudes toward Male Rape: Issues and Concerns

Sexuality & Culture volume 20, pages 731–748 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

This paper critically explores voluntary agencies’ responses to, and attitudes toward male survivors of rape in England and Wales. There has been a gap in this area, so this paper attempts to fill this gap in knowledge by examining how these survivors experience service delivery and by examining what contributions feminist theory and research has made to understand ‘male rape’. This paper argues that feminist theory and research neglects male rape and this negligence can also be seen in voluntary organisations for survivors. Therefore, through the neglect of male rape, the gender roles of men and women are reinforced instead of being tackled. This paper contributes to knowledge by opening up a discussion on male rape in the academic setting, in feminist theory and research debates, and in research surrounding voluntary agencies. This, in turn, helps to raise awareness of such a ‘hidden’ phenomenon in policy and practice and helps to form a better understanding not only of male rape, but also of the responses and attitudes toward it by voluntary provisions and the wider society.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Notes

  1. If rape crisis centres are given more power without any responsibility on them to attain equality in service provision, it can have serious consequences for male rape survivors.

  2. Secondary victimisation is the re-traumatisation of the rape survivor, abuse, or sexual assault. It is an indirect result of assault, which happens via the responses of institutions and individuals to the survivor when dealing with the survivor after the attack.

  3. The Stern Review (2010) is an independent review, directed by Baroness Stern, that investigates the treatment of rape complaints by local authorities, particularly looking at how such authorities deal with, and respond to survivors of rape.

References

  • Abdullah-Khan, N. (2008). Male rape: The emergence of a social and legal issue. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • AHRC, Research Centre for Law, Gender and Sexuality. (2006). Response to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform’s Consultation Paper: ‘Convicting Rapists and Protecting Survivors of Rape—Justice for Survivors of Rape.’ Retrieve at http://www.kent.ac.uk/clgs/news-and-events/consultation_responses.html.

  • Amir, M. (1971). Patterns in forcible rape. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, I., & Struckman-Johnson, C. (Eds.). (1998). Sexually aggressive women: Current perspectives and controversies. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, M. (1980). Women’s oppression today: Problems in Marxist feminist analysis. In M. Humm (Ed.), Feminisms: A reader. Harvester: Hertfordshire.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brownmiller, S. (1975). Against our will: Men, women and rape. London: Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, S. (2009). The psychological effects of male rape. [Online]. Retrieve at http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counselloradvice9907.html. Accessed on 09 June 2014.

  • Christie, N. (1986). The ideal victim. In E. A. Fattah (Ed.), From crime policy to victim policy (pp. 17–30). Basingstoke: MacMillan.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, C. (2014). Male rape is a feminist issue: Feminism, governmentality, and male rape. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Connell, R. W. (2005). Masculinities (2nd ed.). Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, M. (2002). Male sexual assault victims: A selective review of the literature and implications for support services. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 7, 203–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donnelly, D., & Kenyon, S. (1996). “Honey we don’t do men”: Gender stereotypes and the provision of services to sexually assaulted males. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 11(3), 441–448.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, K. (2010). Female sexual predators: Understanding them to protect our children and youths. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dworkin, A. (1981). Pornography: Men possessing women. London: Women’s Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Felson, R. B. (2002). Violence and gender re-examined. Washington, DC: APA.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Felson, R. B., & Krohn, M. (1990). Motives for rape. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 7, 222–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fiebert, M. S., & Tucci, L. M. (1998). Sexual coercion: Men victimized by women. Journal of Men’s Studies, 6(2), 127–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelsthorpe, L. (1989). Sexism and the female offender. Aldershot: Gower.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodey, J. (2005). Victims and victimology: Research, policy and practice. Harlow: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groth, A. N., & Burgess, A. W. (1980). Male rape: Offenders and victims. American Journal of Psychiatry, 137(7), 806–810.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodge, S., & Canter, D. (1998). Victims and perpetrators of male sexual assault. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 13(2), 222–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Home Office. (2010). Interim government response to the stern review. London: Government Equalities Office, Home Office. Retrieved from http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100418065537/http://equalities.gov.uk/pdf/Response_to_Stern_finalWeb.pdf. Accessed 29 June 2014.

  • Isley, P. J., & Gehrenbeck-Shim, D. (1997). Sexual assault of men in the community. Journal of Community Psychology, 25(2), 159–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jamel, J. (2010). Researching the provision of service to rape victims by specially trained police officers: The influence of gender—An exploratory study. New Criminal Law Review: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal, 13(4), 688–709.

    Google Scholar 

  • Javaid, A. (2014a). Male rape: The ‘invisible’ male. Internet Journal of Criminology, pp. 1–49. Retrieved from http://www.internetjournalofcriminology.com/Javaid_Male_Rape_The_Invisible_Male_IJC_Jan_2014.pdf.

  • Javaid, A. (2014b) Male rape: The unseen world of male rape. Internet Journal of Criminology, pp. 1–42. Retrieved from http://www.internetjournalofcriminology.com/Javaid_The_Unseen_World_of_Male_Rape_IJC_Jan_2014.pdf.

  • Javaid, A. (2014c). Feminism, masculinity, and male rape: Bringing male rape ‘out of the closet’. Journal of Gender Studies. doi:10.1080/09589236.2014.959479.

    Google Scholar 

  • Javaid, A. (2014d). Male rape in law and the courtroom. Web Journal of Current Legal Issues, 20(2). Available at: http://webjcli.org/article/view/340/434.

  • Javaid, A. (2015a). The role of alcohol in intimate partner violence: Causal behaviour or excusing behaviour? British Journal of Community Justice, 13(1), 75–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Javaid, A. (2015b). The dark side of men: The nature of masculinity and its uneasy relationship with male rape. Journal of Men’s Studies, 23(3), 271–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Javaid, A. (2015c). Police responses to, and attitudes towards, male rape: Issues and concerns. International Journal of Police Science and Management, 17(2), 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Javaid, A. (2015d). Male rape myths: Understanding and explaining social attitudes surrounding male rape. Masculinities and Social Change, 4(3), 270–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Javaid, A. (2016). Male rape, stereotypes, and unmet needs: Hindering recovery, perpetuating silence. Violence and Gender, 3(1), 7–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, R. L., & Shrier, D. (1987). Post-sexual victimization by females of male patients in an adolescent medicine clinic population. American Journal of Psychiatry, 144(5), 650–652.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, I. (2000). Cultural and historical aspects of male sexual assault. In G. Mezey & M. King (Eds.), Male victims of sexual assault (pp. 104–115). United States: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kassing, L. R., & Prieto, L. R. (2003). The rape myth and blame-based beliefs of counselors-in-training toward male victims of rape. Journal of Counseling and Development, 81, 455–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, M. (1995). Sexual assaults on men: Assessment and management. British Journal of Hospital Medicine, 53(6), 245–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koss, M., & Harvey, M. (1987). The rape victim: Clinical and community approaches to treatment. Lexington MA: Stephen Green.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lees, S. (1997). Ruling passions. Sexual violence, reputation and the law. Buckingham: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lees, S. (2002). Carnal knowledge. Rape on trial. London: The Women’s Press Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockwood, D. (1980). Prison sexual violence. New York: Elsevier North-Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundrigan, S., & Mueller-Johnson, K. (2013). Male stranger rape: A behavioral model of survivor–offender interaction. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 40(7), 763–783.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacKinnon, C. (1989). Feminism unmodified. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Messerschmidt, J. (1993). Masculinities and crime: Critique and reconceptualization of theory. Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mezey, G. C., & King, M. B. (2000). Male victims of sexual assault. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Justice. (2014a). New support for male rape and sexual violence victims. London: HMSO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Justice. (2014b). £500,000 to help break the silence for male rape victims. London: HMSO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monk-Turner, E., & Light, D. (2010). Male sexual assault and rape: Who seeks counselling? Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 22(3), 255–265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newburn, T., & Stanko, E. (1995). When men are victims: The failure of victimology. In T. Newburn & E. Stanko (Eds.), Just boys doing business: Men, masculinities and crime (pp. 153–165). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, B. E. (2007). Preventing female-perpetrated sexual abuse. Trauma, Violence and Abuse, 8(1), 19–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owen, J. (1995). Women-talk and men-talk: Defining and resisting victim status. In R. E. Dobash, R. P. Dobash, & L. Noaks (Eds.), Just boys doing business: Men, masculinities and crime (pp. 46–68). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitfield, C. (2013). Male survivors of sexual assault: To tell or not to tell? PhD thesis. Retrieved from http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:BBMfwrMnd34J:roar.uel.ac.uk/3442/1/2013_DClinPsych_Pitfield.pdf+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=safari.

  • Rentoul, L., & Appleboom, N. (1997). Understanding the psychological impact of rape and serious sexual assault of men: A literature review. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 4(4), 267–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, D. I. (1984). Sexual exploitations. USA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarrel, P. M., & Masters, W. H. (1982). Sexual molestation of men by women. Archives of Sexual Behaviour, 11(2), 117–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scarce, M. (1997). Male on male rape: The hidden toll of stigma and shame. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sepler, F. (1990). Victim advocacy and young male victims of sexual abuse: An evolutionary model. In M. Hunter (Ed.), The sexually abused male, Vol. 1: Prevalence, impact, and treatment (pp. 73–85). Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanko, E. (1990). Everyday violence. London: Virago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanko, E. A., & Hobdell, K. (1993). Assaults on men: Masculinity and male violence. British Journal of Criminology, 33(3), 400–415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stermac, L., Sheridan, P. M., Davidson, A., & Dunn, S. (1996). Sexual assault of adult males. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 11(1), 52–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stern, V. (2010). The stern review. London: Government Equalities Office, Home Office. Retrieved from http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100418065537/http://equalities.gov.uk/PDF/Stern_Review_acc_FINAL.pdf. Accessed 26 June 2014.

  • Vearnals, S., & Campbell, T. (2001). Male victims of male sexual assault: A review of psychological consequences and treatment. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 16(3), 279–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, J. (2004). A study of male rape survivors. PhD thesis, University of Central Lancashire.

  • Walker, J., Archer, J., & Davies, M. (2005). Effects of rape on men: A descriptive analysis. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 34(1), 69–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walklate, S. (2004). Gender, crime and criminal justice (2nd ed.). USA and Canada: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Washington, P. (1999). Second assault of male survivors of sexual violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14(7), 713–730.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, K. G. (2010). Male sexual victimisation: Examining men’s experiences of rape and sexual assault. Men and Masculinities, 12(3), 275–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

My humble thanks go to the anonymous reviewers for their important, valuable and inspiring feedback of the draft manuscript. Thank you.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leeds Beckett University, Calverley Street, Leeds, LS1 3HE, UK

    Aliraza Javaid

Authors
  1. Aliraza Javaid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aliraza Javaid.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

This theoretical and conceptual paper was not funded. The author declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Human and animal rights statement

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by the author.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Javaid, A. Voluntary Agencies’ Responses to, and Attitudes toward Male Rape: Issues and Concerns. Sexuality & Culture 20, 731–748 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-016-9348-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-016-9348-z

Keywords

search

Navigation