11/06/2015 / By Julie Wilson
More than half of sexual assault victims in the military are men, according to numbers provided by the Pentagon. The fact that more men than women are being raped and sexually assaulted in the military highlights the need to implement more safeguards and resources for servicemen who fall victim to sexual abuse.
“Gay rape,” as some refer to it, is likely going unreported due to the stigma attached to a man being raped by another man, says the American Psychological Association (APA), which recently completed a study about the trauma servicemen suffer due to sexual assault.
“Rates of military sexual trauma among men who served in the military may be as much as 15 times higher than has been previously reported, largely because of barriers associated with stigma, beliefs in myths about male rape, and feelings of helplessness,” said the APA in the findings it released November 2.
One myth that the APA’s report disproves, is that male on male rape is about homosexuality, when in reality, similar to when a woman is raped, sexual assault is often about exercising power over the victim and not about sexual attraction.
Number of servicemen sexually assaulted likely 15 x higher than what reports indicate
Every two years, the Defense Department publishes a report on sexual assaults, according to The Washington Times. “Based on Internet emailed surveys it found that more men than women, in pure numbers, are sexually [sic] assault victims.”
Michi Fu, a clinical practitioner with APA who served as the report’s co-editor, said:
“We know that there is under reporting among men and women and hope that this special issue will help to bring awareness and treatment for those that serve and protect us.
“I personally wanted to pull together scholarship after hearing of reports of military sexual trauma being so much more prevalent than in the general population.”
The Pentagon collects its statistics on sexual assaults through anonymous surveys; however, researchers say victims of sexual assaults are still reluctant to report they were abused while serving in the military.
One of the main reasons military men are afraid to report sexual assaults is shame. They feel they are somehow responsible, and often question their own sexuality based on their body’s physical reaction during the assault.
“During male rape, prostate stimulation from penetration and a parasympathetic response of erection/ejaculation may be confused with sexual orientation and result in the belief that they ‘must have enjoyed it,'” says the APA.
Studies show that men suffer “higher levels of sexual dysfunction than females,” reporting symptoms of “low sex drive,” unsatisfied sex life and even “sexual over-activity.” Despite undergoing treatment, men have more difficulty than women improving sexual functioning.
Men who are victims of sexual assault often report questioning their masculinity. “The impact of sexual trauma on one’s sense of self as a man is a common topic of discussion in our men’s group,” says the APA.
“Men worry about being ‘feminized’ and seek out advice from each other about what it means to be a ‘real man.’
“As a result of questioning their sexual identities and their identities as men, many men we treat take on extreme, almost caricatured, versions of masculinity as an identity,” such as bodybuilding and spending long hours in the gym.
“Often, when the pursuit of physical strength is not enough, males turn to violent confrontations to prove their manhood, pushing themselves to fight the fight that they believe they should have fought during the assault. “
Military men who are victims of sexual assault suffer heightened feelings of PTSD
APA obtained their numbers by surveying a random group of 180 combat veterans, after which they grew suspicious that sexual assault rates among military men may be 15 times higher than previously believed.
The rapes damage mental health, contributing to other war-related disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), researchers say. Men are also more prone to suffer from paranoia and schizophrenia.
“Male veterans who reported being sexually assaulted while serving their country suffered more severe symptoms of PTSD and depression, had higher rates of suicidal thoughts and were more likely to enroll in outpatient mental health treatment than those who were not assaulted.”
In the year 2013, an estimated 26,000 service members were victims of sexual assault, according to the Pentagon, and 14,000, or 54 percent, of them were men.
“If the APA findings are based on one year, then the true number for military men is 210,000 sexual assaults per year,” reports The Washington Times.
Sources:
Tagged Under: American Pyschological Association, men, military, rape, Sexual assault
COPYRIGHT © 2017 TWISTED.NEWS
All content posted on this site is protected under Free Speech. Twisted.news is not responsible for content written by contributing authors. The information on this site is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice of any kind. Twisted.news assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. All trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks mentioned on this site are the property of their respective owners.