Male Sexual Assault Survivors

Sexual violence can and does happen to males. As noted by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR, n.d.), men and boys are sexual assaulted and molested every day in the United States. However, false assumptions, popular stereotypes, and the belief that men are immune from sexual assault help us ignore the fact of male rape.

Statistics on Adult Male Sexual Violence

Men and boys are also the victims of the crimes of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and rape. In fact, in the U.S., over 10% of all victims are male.
(U.S. Department of Justice. 2003 National Crime Victimization Survey)
An estimated 92,748 men are raped each year in the United States
1 out of every 33 men have been victims of attempted or completed rape
11-12% of all rape and attempted victimizations occur to men
(PCAR, n.d.)

Statistics on Males Sexually Assaulted as Children

It is believed that 1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted before age 18
21% of Pennsylvania’s child sexual abuse victims are males
(PCAR, n.d.)

Who Sexually Assaults Men and Boys?

Adult men and boys can be assaulted by friends, significant others, strangers, and gangs
If you have been victimized

Go to a safe place
Seek medical attention

You also have the choice to . . .

Report the assault

Seek counseling

These are important steps to take right away after an assault:

Get away from the attacker and go to a safe place as fast as you can. Then call 911 or the police.

Call a friend or family member you trust. You also can call a crisis center or a hotline to talk with a counselor. Feelings of shame, guilt, fear, and shock are normal. It is important to get counseling from a trusted professional.

Do not wash, comb, or clean any part of your body. Do not change clothes if possible, so the hospital staff can collect evidence. Do not touch or change anything at the scene of the assault.

Go to your nearest hospital emergency room as soon as possible. You need to be examined, treated for any injuries, and screened for possible sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Hospital staff will collect evidence using a rape kit for fibers, hairs, saliva, semen, other bodily fluids, or clothing that the attacker may have left behind. Make sure hospital staff members know you have been sexually assaulted.

Reporting the incident

You can always call 911 to report the sexual assault.

If the assault occurred on campus:

You can report the incident to the BU University police by calling (570) 389-4168 or using an on campus phone to call 911. For TDD call (570)389-4168 or (570)389-4172.

If the assault occurred off-campus:

The incident can be reported to the police department that has jurisdiction over the area where the assault occurred or call 911.

Counseling

Free confidential counseling services are available through the BU Counseling Center located in the Student Service Center. These services are available by calling (570) 389-4255.

For more information about Male Sexual Assault, please click here or go to RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network).

Help is Available

If you, or someone you know, have been a victim of sexual assault, you can always contact one or more of the following resources.

Campus Resources

BU Women’s Resource Center
(570) 389-5283

BU Student Standards
(570) 389-4304

BU Police
(570) 389-4169

BU Office of Social Equity
(570) 389-4553

If you live on campus, your CA or Area Coordinator can be a great resource for you.

Off-Campus Resources

The Women’s Center, Inc. (the Town of Bloomsburg)
(800) 544-8293

Emergency — 911

RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network)
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
http://www.rainn.org/