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The Rape of Men

ponderingturtle said:
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Article about the systemic rape of men in africa and the lack of any reaction to it.
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So far, the story checks out. A random sampling of international aid group shows no specific focus on the plight of male victims of sexual violence in areas of conflict in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.* Even the UN's flashy "Stop Rape Now" site ignores it

This is only skimming. Aid in countries torn by conflict is internal with support and funding from the international communities. A Google search won't turn up the statistics for a victim's shelter in the Congo (for example). The only information we have are reports from western aid workers, researchers, reporters.

Given the history of support for male victims of violence, the lack of specific funding to address male victims, and the limited resources under which every foundation operates, it is fair to assume that there is currently no plan in place to help these men. Worse, the extremely ingrained gender roles of these countries would make the creation of any sort of network extremely difficult. A woman could go live in a group home for rape victims and not lose as much status as a man in the same position. The solution would need to be different. But first and foremost, the international community needs to redefine it's definition of rape to include all victims of rape.


* Human Rights Watch has several studies and campaigns to end male on male rape in US prisons.
 
In Uganda, survivors are at risk of arrest by police, as they are likely to assume that they're gay – a crime in this country and in 38 of the 53 African nations.
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Now that's ********** up...
 
I honestly don't understand the "stop violence against women" campaigns. Women saying we should figth violence against women makes as little sense as me saying I want all people on Earth to fight racism against whites. Even if you accept the "these things happen predominately to women, so that's our focus" view, it comes across as very egocentric to me.

Plus, portraying violence and sexual abuse as something that happens predominately to women is a piss-poor way to get men involved.

Were the men dressed provocatively?
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While I typically don't care much for this kind of humour, it came across as hilarious when placed next to your avatar.

eta
Article about the systemic rape of men in africa and the lack of any reaction to it.
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/me notes this thread has next to no replies.
 
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Male rape happens way more often that societys realise. The homeless get raped. One guy got raped after he went to sleep on a park bench. People who hitchhike get raped and sometimes people who pick up hitchhikers get raped. Of course rape in prison is very common.

The male victims of rape like their female counterparts sometimes blame themselves for what happened to them. They have the same issues as women.
 
Safe-Keeper said:
While I typically don't care much for this kind of humour, it came across as hilarious when placed next to your avatar.
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I'm just trying to satire the "its their fault too" arguments that always come out in the threads about rape of women.
 
Cainkane1 said:
Male rape happens way more often that societys realise. The homeless get raped. One guy got raped after he went to sleep on a park bench. People who hitchhike get raped and sometimes people who pick up hitchhikers get raped. Of course rape in prison is very common.

The male victims of rape like their female counterparts sometimes blame themselves for what happened to them. They have the same issues as women.
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While not quite as common, i would like to point out that rape by a female is possible and not as uncommon as one thinks. And ironically, speaking from personal experience, the tentativeness of most of us upstanding guys to hurt a female, aids this.
 
bookitty said:
* Human Rights Watch has several studies and campaigns to end male on male rape in US prisons.
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I say good luck with that, as my impression is that a lot of Americans see it as a deserved part of the punishment.
 
I've waited a little while and this thread has died out. I am curious as to why.

It is an interesting social issue, a vivid example of the harm caused by gender roles, and the article offers information on an under-reported problem. It has the ingredients for a long and occasionally contentious thread.
 
bookitty said:
I've waited a little while and this thread has died out. I am curious as to why.

It is an interesting social issue, a vivid example of the harm caused by gender roles, and the article offers information on an under-reported problem. It has the ingredients for a long and occasionally contentious thread.
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Interesting - I was also watching this thread to see whether it would generate the number of responses most threads about rape do or not. I find it rather strange that it hasn't taken off. What makes it so different that it doesn't seem to push the same buttons (individually and in wider society) as discussion on women being raped. Is it an example of embedded sexism in society to the detriment of men? I really don't know.
 
I saw that article a few weeks ago, and it was heartbreaking and discouraging in so many ways.

But I haven't commented because I can't particularly think of anything to say.
 
Darat said:
Interesting - I was also watching this thread to see whether it would generate the number of responses most threads about rape do or not. I find it rather strange that it hasn't taken off. What makes it so different that it doesn't seem to push the same buttons (individually and in wider society) as discussion on women being raped. Is it an example of embedded sexism in society to the detriment of men? I really don't know.
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That was my initial thought but I'm not sure that's enough. My WAG is that has more to do with the areas in which these abuses are taking place. The Congo and Uganda are extremely volatile, it is difficult to provide aid and all help is more triage than institution.

There are not enough resources. Even if the plight of male victims of rape became more widely known, there is little that can be done. More than 5 million people have been killed in the Congo alone, almost half a million have been raped, many of those are already getting no help.

When just knowing about something is futile, people tend to shy away from the subject. It's frustrating to realize that this will happen no matter what.
 
Darat said:
Interesting - I was also watching this thread to see whether it would generate the number of responses most threads about rape do or not. I find it rather strange that it hasn't taken off. What makes it so different that it doesn't seem to push the same buttons (individually and in wider society) as discussion on women being raped. Is it an example of embedded sexism in society to the detriment of men? I really don't know.
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bookitty said:
That was my initial thought but I'm not sure that's enough. My WAG is that has more to do with the areas in which these abuses are taking place. The Congo and Uganda are extremely volatile, it is difficult to provide aid and all help is more triage than institution.

There are not enough resources. Even if the plight of male victims of rape became more widely known, there is little that can be done. More than 5 million people have been killed in the Congo alone, almost half a million have been raped, many of those are already getting no help.

When just knowing about something is futile, people tend to shy away from the subject. It's frustrating to realize that this will happen no matter what.
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I think it is probably a combination of the two. Most people aren't going to post when the only thing they can add to the discussion is 'that's so horrible'. They are less inclined to do even that when they don't have the gut reaction that it's so horrible because it's about what's happening to men.

Men aren't supposed to need help. Men aren't supposed to complain. Men who do need help or do complain no longer deserve help or sympathy. It's a monstrous thought process, but that's what happens. It's a no win. And let's be honest, rape isn't the only place that thought process happens to the detriment of men.
 
tyr_13 said:
I think it is probably a combination of the two. Most people aren't going to post when the only thing they can add to the discussion is 'that's so horrible'. They are less inclined to do even that when they don't have the gut reaction that it's so horrible because it's about what's happening to men.

Men aren't supposed to need help. Men aren't supposed to complain. Men who do need help or do complain no longer deserve help or sympathy. It's a monstrous thought process, but that's what happens. It's a no win. And let's be honest, rape isn't the only place that thought process happens to the detriment of men.
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I concur. Many issues affecting men are just ignored, and they should just 'suck it up.' Or when it's pointed out that men have it worse is some areas, accusations of misogyny start. Things that come to mind off the top of my head include suicide rates, workplace injuries and fatalities, post-secondary graduation rates, homelessness...
 
bookitty said:
I've waited a little while and this thread has died out. I am curious as to why.
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Maybe there are people who are watching the thread who want to see where it is going.

I haven't really had anything to say, since "that's terrible" isn't the best comment to further discussion.

It has the ingredients for a long and occasionally contentious thread.
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It may have the ingredients, but that doesn't mean that it will.
 
Ryokan said:
I say good luck with that, as my impression is that a lot of Americans see it as a deserved part of the punishment.
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Yes.

Common acceptance of prison rape (and other prison violence) as "if you do not want this, do not break the law" is not just barbaric -- it is not even self-servingly rational. Condoning prison rapes and gangs means the worst toughest thugs have a great deal of fun in prison. One result of such attitude is that the most dangerous criminals have LEAST reason to fear jail. How logical is that? And why do so few Americans seem to understand it?
 
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