Susan Estrich, an outspoken sexual assault activist, recently wrote on male rape and the "lack" of victims. In Houston, Texas a serial rapist has victimized over 5 males ages 18 to 21 since September:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/18/male.rapes.ap/index.html.
More victims are suspected, but may be silent for many reasons. Fear of being revictimized in the criminal justice system, not believed, facing homosexual stigma regardless of sexual orientation, and because rape is viewed as a "women's issue" often encourage such silence.
Susan Estrich's column: http://news.yahoo.com/s/uc/20061220/cm_uc_crsesx/susan_estrich20061220
Statistics based off police reports often show low to no levels of male sexual assault. As Ms. Estrich notes, "what none means is that serious criminals are getting away with rape, and boys and men are suffering the stigma of shame along with the pain and anguish of brutalization." Normally reported male rapes involve children, leading to facts like the average age for male rape is 4 (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2000).
When male sexual assault is brought to the fore-front we learn much about the nature of rape. Perpetrators of reported male rape are 61% male, 28% female, and 11% are both! We learn that female perpetrators more often use coercion 91% of the time and 50% are adolescents baby sitters (JAMA, 1998). Many people don't realize females rape; rape is not solely men raping women. If we want to create a world without sexual violence male victims need support and outlet for their voice.
PAVE Voices: Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment is an organization committed to shattering the silence to the silence surrounding sexual violence!
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