The Truth About Male Rape and Society’s Stigma
Are Men Really Strong and Safe? Why Are We So Inhumane?
This is the third time I am addressing a topic that has intrigued me greatly, and I hope to finally articulate my views on it. I understand that this topic may anger some, and some may even hate me for my views or label me as being biased towards men, but certain truths must be understood and spoken.
Last month, I read a news story about a man who was kidnapped and raped. This raised the question in my mind: is it possible to rape a man? To begin with, what is rape? Rape is a type of sexual assault involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without their consent.
Through my research, I discovered that there are very few or no laws to protect men who have been sexually assaulted. In India, laws are made only to protect women from sexual harassment or rape, and there are no statutes to protect men from this ruthless act.
The only law that exists for sexual violence against men is Section 377 of The Indian Penal Code, 1860, which talks about ‘sodomy’. All other sections are meant for women. It is important to note that for committing sexual violence, the perpetrator and the victim can be of any gender, unlike what is mentioned in Section 354A to 354D and Section 375 of The Indian Penal Code, which states that only a man can be the perpetrator.
Men also fear humiliation. By reading stories of sexual assault against men, we can begin to understand the depth of this issue that is not seen or understood by many. According to Pentagon statistics, on average, about 10,000 men are sexually assaulted in the American military each year.
The victims face multiple traumas in their life. Commonly, they tend to avoid people or places that remind them of the abuse, have fear and trust issues, have a sense of blame or shame that they couldn’t stop it, and hate their own body since they experienced an erection or ejaculation. Anxiety, depression, and suicide tendencies are common in most victims. They are often worried about the judgement passed or the disbelief about what happened to them. Are we aware that they too have problems like internal bleeding?
On average, about 10,000 men are sexually assaulted in the American military each year.Pentagon statistics
Who will stop such crimes? Why are we so biased? We celebrate Women’s Day and try to protect the lives of females, but we need to understand that there should be a balance. If one gender is neglected or not taken care of, the other cannot survive on its own. We need to have a broader outlook on life. Men need help too.
Why can’t men come out and speak? Shame, stigma, society, humiliation, and ancient beliefs stop them from speaking out about what they face. Silence and suicide remain the way out for many. When we speak of equality, the law should be the same for all. Let the world be safe for all.
Take care of your loved ones, and let us all be more humane.
Sources:
- https://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/jul/17/the-rape-of-men
- https://www.news18.com/buzz/punjab-man-claims-he-was-abducted-and-gangraped-by-four-women-6568903.html“
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