Male rape survivors tackle military assault in tough guy culture

[Recursion]

Shared through the American Legion, which shouldn't be surprising but is.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/16/18301723-male-rape-survivors-tackle-military-assault-in-tough-guy-culture

Amid the legislation and indignation sparked by the military's sexual abuse crisis, male rape survivors are stepping forward to remind officials that men are targeted more often than women inside a tough-guy culture that, they say, routinely deems male victims as “liars and trouble makers.”

The Pentagon estimates that last year 13,900 of the 1.2 million men on active duty endured sexual assault while 12,100 of the 203,000 women in uniform experienced the same crime — or 38 men per day versus 33 women per day. Yet the Defense Department also acknowledges “male survivors report at much lower rates than female survivors.”

“As a culture, we’ve somewhat moved past the idea that a female wanted this trauma to occur, but we haven’t moved past that for male survivors,” said Brian Lewis, a rape survivor who served in the Navy. “In a lot of areas of the military, men are still viewed as having wanted it or of being homosexual. That’s not correct at all. It’s a crime of power and control.

“But also, you’re instantly viewed as a liar and a troublemaker (when a man reports a sex crime), and there’s the notion that you have abandoned your shipmates, that you took a crap all over your shipmates, that you misconstrued their horseplay,” he added.

To be clear: women are much more likely to be victims of sexual violence while in the military. But male victimization is much more common. (If that seems impossible to you, trust me that it's not, or PM me for the demonstration).

What's important to me is that outlets like the Legion are picking this up. Sexual assault affects all sorts of people, and there is no place for it in the US military.

[thucythucy]

1. Excellent post.

Issues around male survivors are often ignored, which is devastating to the survivors themselves and integral in maintaining a general rape culture.

I've heard it said that the public awareness and perception of the rape of males is thirty years behind that of women and girls.

There's a lot of work that needs to be done, and I commend any person or organization willing to take this on.

[Recursion]

2. That's probably accurate

We need a way to talk about male victimization that doesn't take away from female victimization.

[closeupready]

3. And thread is now effectively pointless. Thanks.

[Sheldon Cooper]

9. Why do you think the thread is pointless?

I think it's exactly what is needed to draw attention to the male victims of rape in the military, and it deserves its own discussion, instead of inserting it into discussions regarding female rape victims.

[closeupready]

12. That's just you, and a significant portion of others here.

That's not my view.

[Sheldon Cooper]

13. What's not your view?

I really don't understand what is your objection. Can you elaborate?

[closeupready]

16. Done here.

Cheers.

[Sheldon Cooper]

17. Okay.

[HappyMe]

14. I agree.

Rape is rape. But I believe that there are issues unique to men in the military that can't be applied to female victims.

[BainsBane]

24. evidently pointless

because it mentions that women too are victims of assault, rather than portraying them as inherently evil?

[closeupready]

25. They're gonna have to rename this place, Psychic Underground,

and maybe see if one of the Celebrity Apprentice contestants is available for an endorsement tie-in...?

[BainsBane]

26. That's what happens when you refuse

to explain yourself. People are left guessing. I myself just say what I mean. It's much easier.

[closeupready]

28. Dewd, so done with you and your groupie bullshit.

Bye.

[BainsBane]

29. believe me

I'm not your groupie. I have respect for the English language and people not afraid to say what they think.

[thucythucy]

5. I think that can and should be done.

I used to volunteer at a rape crisis center where we often encountered male survivors. Not at the same rate as women and girls, but nevertheless often enough so that the issue was addressed in counselor training, and efforts were made to provide whatever support we could, assuming the survivor wanted it.

Male rape dynamics are similar if not identical to the rape of females. It's an expression of contempt and an exercise of power. But added in the mix for males is cultural homophobia, which can make it difficult for survivors to come forward. This is again based on cultural ignorance. The fact is a great deal of male on male rape is committed by heterosexuals--in prison, in the military, or on the street--again, as an expression of power and contempt. But male survivors often struggle in silence for fear of being labeled gay. Which is not to say that there isn't rape in the gay community--date rape, spousal rape, acquaintance rape--which is of course devastating in the much the same way that rape of women and girls is.

So it's a vicious mix: the rape itself, the weight of an institution (such as a prison administration, military chain of command, church hierarchy), and cultural ignorance and homophobia.

We need to support male survivors just as we support female survivors. A rape committed anywhere on anyone makes the next rape that much more possible.

Thanks again for posting this.

Best wishes.

[redqueen]

18. IMO putting a special focus on male victims is best.

We need posters and ads about rape with language aimed at boys and men, with images of boys and men.

We need boys and men to be able to see that people know this happens, and people care, and will listen and help.

[closeupready]

20. Thank you, RQ - 100% agree.

[HappyMe]

6. I would bet that a lot of guys

don't report rape because they figure nobody would believe them.

After all, you're a guy, how can you be raped!

[geek tragedy]

8. I suspect the reasons men and women don't report

rape are largely the same, though they may manifest themselves in slightly different ways with different degrees of frequency.

[HappyMe]

11. I was referring to male victims

since that is the main point of the article.

[geek tragedy]

15. My point was that this is pretty much a universal reason

why rape victims don't speak up--regardless of age or gender.

So I agree with you. Fear of not being believed, of being shamed, etc.

[Recursion]

19. ^^^ That

That was it, really.For me, the private/public distinction is meaningless if we are going to talk about efficiencyFor me, the private/public distinction is meaningless if we are going to talk about efficiency

[BainsBane]

30. efficiency or efficacy?

in reducing the stigma of reporting sexual assault and the frequent occurrence of those crimes?

[geek tragedy]

4. Rape culture victimizes men, women, girls, boys nt

[redqueen]

10. +1

It's really good to see this is getting more visibility.

[Zorra]

7. Wow! "38 men per day versus 33 women per day" 71 people every day!

Last edited Fri May 17, 2013, 08:50 PM - Edit history (1)

"The U.S. has the world’s most powerful military machine. Its navy controls the seas, its air force the skies. Almost 70 years after the end of World War Two, its armies occupy bases from Germany and Italy to South Korea and Japan. Its CIA-operated drones attack Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Afghanistan. Its multiple intelligence agencies have black sites and black budgets and carry out black operations. The financial costs of maintaining an empire are enormous. The moral costs are incalculable. And some would suggest the external violence connects to the murderous rampages and shootings here in the homeland. The signs of structural decay are all too apparent. Nation building begins at home.

Can we imagine a culture of peace? Can we create a political and economic system that serve the needs of people and protects and honors the Earth?" ~ Former Congressman Dennis Kucinich

[redqueen]

21. kick

[redqueen]

22. one more time

[seabeyond]

23. reading, i was thinking the obvious, percentage wise the numbers would not be the same. BUT...

i really appreciate you posting this. men have got to speak out. not only for the whole. and to be effective in finding a solution. but for themselves and to de shame, as much as anyone can with rape. thanks for this post.

i support these men totally, stepping forward and speaking out. let them be heard.

[redqueen]

27. +1

[Zorra]

31. kick