Male-on-Male Rape of an Adult Man: A Case Review and Implications for Interventions

Male Survivors of Domestic Violence, Challenges in Cultural Response, and Impact on Identity and Help-Seeking Behaviors: A Systematic Review

Male experiences of domestic and relational violence have been only marginally explored in the literature. In connection to this, attitudes in the community and among service providers and criminal justice system entities can vary dramatically. This variance in attitudes creates an instability which has a differential impact on the help-seeking behaviors of victims. Additionally, help-seeking behaviors are often influenced by internalized shame and confusion on the part of the survivors themselves when their social constructions of masculinity do not align with lived experience. More is needed to understand the nature of male survivorship in situations of relational violence. A systematic review was conducted to begin organizing the data on the topic. This review started with 15,547 peer-reviewed articles. Those were systematically narrowed to a total of 16 of the most recent pieces of empirical science on the topic. The final articles were thematically analyzed. Findings suggest (a) cultural stigma around constructions of masculinity, (b) fear of disclosure, and (c) negative experiences with criminal justice and support system responses, among the highest drivers for the disparate experience and hesitation to seek help.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Sexual Victimization among Gay and Bisexual Men: A Preliminary Study in Spain

Sexual violence is an understudied issue in the population of gay and bisexual men, although the existing articles to date demonstrate that it is a problem that merits public attention. This study aims to approach the problem of invisibility around the matter, as well as presenting a number of variables that have been usually overlooked in Spanish research or have not been assessed at all. Lifetime sexual victimization, sociodemographic characteristics, situational characteristics and social support were examined among 550 gay and bisexual males living in Spain using a self-administrated questionnaire. Results analysis show that 90.00% (87.18-92.38%) of participants reported at least one experience of unwanted insinuation, 87.27% (84.19-89.94%) reported at least one experience of sexual coercion, 64.00% (59.83-68.02%) reported at least one experience of sexual assault, and specifically 19.82% (16.57-23.40%) reported being raped during their lifetime. Significant differences have been found between some categories regarding gender identity, sexual orientation, age, race/ethnicity and educational level. Overall, these results showcase sexual violence as a pervasive problem in the Spanish gay and bisexual community.

Sexual violence among men who have sex with men and two-spirit peoples: A scoping review

Sexual violence (SV) is a human rights and public health issue that impacts people from all communities. Men who have sex with men/Two-Spirit (MSM/2S) peoples are up to six times more likely to experience SV compared to heterosexual men. In addition, MSM/2S people are less likely to report SV. Reasons for this lack of reporting include male rape myths, fear of judgment, stigma, shame, homophobia, and/or lack of access to supportive services. The current scoping review offers a synthesis of the recent literature regarding SV among MSM/2S peoples in order to make research, practice, and policy recommendations. Findings indicated consistent SV risk factors, associated negative health outcomes, and barriers to accessing services. Risk factors included being younger, inexperience in MSM/2S communities, and having a history of sexual abuse or violence. Negative health outcomes included increased risk for HIV, depression, anxiety, heart disease, fear, eating disorders, substance use, social isolation, PTSD, and suicide. Help-seeking barriers included limited support services, lack of reporting, and male rape myths. Policy recommendations include targeted efforts to raise awareness of SV among MSM/2S peoples, and affirming the legitimacy of reporting SV through specialized healthcare services and trained professionals.

Barriers to and Facilitators of Help-Seeking Behavior Among Men Who Experience Sexual Violence

Research on sexual violence and related support services access has mainly focused on female victims; there is still a remarkable lack of research on men who experience sexual violence. Research demonstrates that people who both self-identify as men and are members of sexual-orientation minority populations are at higher risk of sexual violence. They are also less likely to either report or seek support services related to such experiences. The present study is an exploratory one aimed at filling the gap in the literature and better understanding how men, both straight and gay as well as cisgender and transgender, conceptualize, understand, and seek help related to sexual violence. A sample of 32 men was recruited on-line and participated in either a one-on-one in-depth interview (N = 19) or one of two focus group discussions (N = 13). All interviews and groups were audiotaped, professionally transcribed and coded using NVivo 9 qualitative software. The present analysis focused on barriers to and facilitators of support service access. Emergent and cross-cutting themes were identified and presented, with an emphasis on understanding what factors may prevent disclosure of a sexual violence experience and facilitate seeking support services and/or professional help. Through this analysis, the research team aims to add knowledge to inform the development of tools to increase service access and receipt, for use by both researchers and service professionals. Although this study contributes to the understanding of the issue of men’s experiences of sexual violence, more research with diverse populations is needed.

Attitudes Toward Women, Rape Myths, and Rape Perceptions Among Male Police Officers in South Korea

Because of the critical roles of police officers in dealing with rape cases, the purpose of the current study was to examine the perceptions of rape among male police officers, with a particular focus on how attitudes toward women, rape survivor myths, and myths about the impact of rape are related to perceptions of rape scenarios. Utilizing cross-sectional data from 236 male police officers in South Korea, results of structural equation modeling indicated that attitudes toward women and rape survivor myths were positively related to rape perceptions. Those who had stereotypical attitudes toward women and those who had stronger beliefs in rape survivor myths were more likely to endorse rape-supportive attributions in rape scenarios. Results also revealed that officers' attitudes toward women were indirectly related to rape perceptions through rape survivor myths. Moreover, previous attendance at a sexual assault educational program was inversely related to rape perceptions, such that those who attended an educational program were less likely to endorse rape-supportive attributions in rape scenarios. The implications of these findings for practice and policy are discussed, including the need for the Korean legal system to recognize the need for self-determination and for police training to be better targeted and ongoing.