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// CCT205 - Cultural Transformation Research Assignment and Communications Strategy: //

**// Male Sexual Assault //**

Sexual abuse is defined as any form of sexual activity without a person’s consent, including kissing, fondling, touching, oral/anal sex or sexual intercourse (AASAC). This issue can affect all people of different ages and sexes. Yet focus is usually placed upon female victims of sexual abuse. However, the prevalence of male victims deserves consideration because the repercussions of abuse are just as devastating for males.


 * What is the history of this issue? **

The constant focus on female victims of sexual assault has propagated many myths about male victims. Both sexes suffer from long term effects of sexual assault. Unfortunately, society refuses or reluctantly accepts males’ victimization, and tends to expect males to silently “tough it out”. As a result, males may suffer more emotional damage (Male Survivor). Majority of male sexual assault cases occur with males initiating a sexually abusive act towards the victim. The Men Against Sexual Violence organization states, “male rape has nothing to do with the sexual orientation of either the victim or the offender” (Men Against Sexual Violence). The same emotions act as a determinant for both male and female rape. These emotions include the need for control, a release of anger or frustration and other repressed emotions. As a result, “An estimated 111,298 rapes of adult men occur each year” (Men Against Sexual Violence).

The underrepresentation of male sexual assault makes it a dire issue that is necessary to address. Male sexual assault results in the same trauma as female sexual assault. The constant representations of masculinity and male strength within society prevent the possibility of males overtly expressing their trauma and suffering. It also raises issues of homosexuality, despite the fact that male rape does not define sexual orientation. These attitudes prevent a male victim from taking the step to ask for help to overcome the trauma that follows sexual assault. Such an issue is seen to undermine the masculine way of being. As stated by psychologist Richard Gartner “ masculine gender expectations teach boys they can't be victims…(and) are supposed to be competitive, resilient, self-reliant, and independent, but certainly not emotionally needy” (Gartner). When victims are heterosexual, they tend to feel more pressure regarding the feelings and emotions they may have experienced during the act of being raped by a male offender. Therefore, there are many implications and pre-meditated factors regarding male sexual assault that have gone unnoticed, reinforcing that this issue requires attention.


 * Who are primary stakeholders (e.g., those who have some opinion/influence regarding the issue)? What are their positions? **

Many organizations work towards greater awareness for this issue and they are the primary stakeholders. Such organizations have taken the initiative of creating an environment that can offer help and solutions for such victims. Their position regarding this issue is mainly aimed towards spreading awareness and providing an accessible and an approachable place for victims. Examples of such organizations are ‘Men Against Sexual Violence’, ‘Male Survivor’, ‘The Alberta Association of Sexual Assault Centers’, ‘The National Center for Victims of Crime’ and many more. The psychologist and psychoanalyst Richard Gartner is also a very important advocate for male sexual assault and treats men with histories of abuse (Gartner). Such organizations create an environment of understanding and acceptance and do not ignore that such events do in fact take place. They offer the helping hand that these victims do not often obtain by trying to deal with this issue alone. At times society may not be respectful towards the abuse of male rape and therefore does not allow the freedom to express the trauma. As a result, some people have developed opposing views such as blaming the victim for either being homosexual, or believing the victim placed themselves in compromising situations.

The issue of male sexual abuse is often undermined because those abused do not speak up. The lack of knowledge on this issue creates many misunderstandings. A “grey area” exists within the controversial topic of male sexual abuse “that results from forms of manipulation and exploitation that breach ethical rather than criminal codes of conduct” (Schmidt and Fenaughty). These misunderstandings stem from common perceptions of male sexual abuse, especially those that occur in correctional facilities. In 1989, a study done on Texas corrections officers’ attitudes toward prison rape exposed that “46% of officers thought that some inmates deserved to be raped, 34% believed rape victims are weak, and 15% believed rape victims are gay” (Hernandez). The prevalence of these views undermines the importance of this social issue.

Male victims are blamed for incidents of abuse due to many reasons that extend to the homosexual community. A survey by Johanna Schmidt and John Fenaughty performed on gay men uncovered the experiences of abuse within their community (2009). Most of the experiences showed a pattern that victims believed they were young and naïve; thus, the victims were unaware of “sexual coercion” and “cultural norms around gay sex” (Schmidt and Fenaughty). Also, many cases in the survey showed that drugs and alcohol were used to distort the victim’s consciousness which “minimized the perpetrator's responsibility for the act and, in a sense, normalized this other man's coerciveness” (Schmidt and Fenaughty). Victims are held accountable for actions that are beyond their control which further encourages ignorant views on male sexual abuse.

However, there are incidents where male victims blame themselves for the abuse as a result of dominant gender role ideologies. “Men are taught certain gender role behaviors such as the importance of being physically strong, able to protect themselves, and emotionally stoic” (Kassing). These beliefs are instilled from an early age and consequently lessen the likelihood of victims reporting the crime. This is due to the “socio-cultural stereotypes” that deal with “the expectation of being able to defend against sexual assault” (Kassing). The result is a misperceived idea of male sexual assault with dominant socio-cultural effects determining the “expected” male’s reaction to the crime.


 * What events and conflicts are shaping your issue at present? **

There have been many issues and cases of male sexual assault that continue to require the attention that it lacks. Due to this lack of awareness, it creates an environment that is lapse concerning the issue, thus perpetuating the pervasiveness of such incidents. For example, a recent event in the news outlined a rape and murder of an innocent 4 year old boy by an Emirati man in Dubai (Gulf News). The perpetrator’s punishment included being sentenced to death. However, the impact of such an act on the victim is so extensive that ignoring male sexual abuse should not occur anymore. Further, a study of UK prisons reveals the cases of rape that have taken place within the prison environment. For example, “ many men have been subjected to rape and/or sexual abuse within the prison system” (Amsosa UK). In addition, “ …when a prisoner makes an allegation of sexual abuse/rape, they often end up being removed from the prison they were in, and meanwhile the abuser stays behind, leaving the 'victim' even more traumatized by the whole event” (Amsosa, UK).

Another example is demonstrated within the prisons of the United States of America. A study within the Male Oklahoma Correctional Facilities showed statistics of accounts of rape or sexual activities that took place in a “medium-security prison” in Delaware (CPSATMO). The study showed that “of 101 male inmates interviewed, 3% reported having witnessed one rape…1% reported witnessing two rapes…1 male inmate reported being raped” (CPSATMO). They also reported having another inmate trying to rape them while they were imprisoned (CPSATMO). If 4% of only 101 inmates have witnessed a rape, imagine the prevalence of rape within the facility, in other facilities, and worldwide.

Therefore, these examples demonstrate the presence of events and conflicts regarding this issue. This relates to the history of the issue because much of these attacks take place due to many repressed feelings, or the environment that such attackers are immersed in. These factors can have adverse effects on males, such as prison inmates, and in turn causing them to perform such actions.


 * Where does your group stand regarding this issue? What position are you going to be advocating? What would you like to have your target audience do about it? **

The social issue of male sexual assault may be regarded as taboo as it is not often addressed. The prevalence of this crime is surprising as it is not reported as frequently as female sexual assault. Our goal is to advocate the establishment of more facilities that help victims cope with the effects of such traumatizing events. These facilities will create awareness and will specialize in treating men. They will help create a safe environment for males of all ages to feel comfortable enough to reach out for help. As mentioned previously, the expectations of how males should act within society repress these victims from ever admitting their trauma and asking for help. With these facilities, not only can victims receive the help they need, but any male inquiring about the issue can easily and comfortably receive the information they need. This way, awareness can help prevent these cases from happening and being ignored.


 * Communication Strategy? ie. the plan for how you'll be engaging your target audience! >>> objective, goals, audience, key messages, strategy, tactics, measurement **

Objectives: To inform 2000 university students about the issue and prevalence of male sexual assault

Goals: To spread awareness of the magnitude of this issue, to provide more effective routes for help, and more reliable and easier access to information for males of all ages

Audience: University students

Key messages: Do not blame yourself for the abuse. Do not fear speaking up and getting help

Strategy: To inform our audience of the issue

Tactics: Information sessions, broadcast on University of Toronto at Mississauga radio and TV, lectures, campaigns, promotion with Sexual Education and Peer Counseling Centre (SEC)

Works Cited Amsosa uk-male rape in uk prisons. Retrieved from [] Gartner, Richard. //The National center for victims of crime//. Retrieved from [] Gartner, Richard. //What about the Boys?// Retrieved from [] Gulf news. Retrieved from []) Hensley, Tewksbury, Castle. //Characteristics of Prison Sexual Assault Ttargets in Male Oklahoma Correctional Facilities.// Retrieved from [|http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ydpR301NJ4QJ:www.justdetention.org/pdf/soc/CharacteristicsofPrisonOklahoma.pdf+male+sexual+assault%2Bprisons&hl=en&gl=ca&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjplKwMlV7TsdG1wy6SYkBcpdvZx-Z-X9Xo7o1NrIZE1HLzqJ_04ZHNalVdFvFLS75v-wINSdNLZbR6Niap4H_6oljlSZZHkqQk4KGDzAaNInG9RrJYJsVwYhYVMewJtqBAtu18&sig=AHIEtbQ6P5g75G8qKCJMcOqJrs20 QzKQ3Q] Hernandez, G. “Can gay inmates be protected?” __The Advocate__//,// 952 (2005): 38. Kassing, L. “Gender role conflict, homophobia, age, and education as predictors of male rape myth acceptance.” __Journal of Mental Health__ __Counseling__//,// 27.4 (2005): 311. Male survivor: male sexual victimization myths and facts. Retrieved from [] Men against sexual violence.Retrieved from [] Schmidt, J. “Sexual coercion among gay and bisexual men in Aotearoa/New zealand”. __Journal of Homosexuality__, 56(3) (2009): 336. The Alberta association of sexual assault centers. Retrieved from []