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Path: utzoo!linus!security!genrad!grkermit!masscomp!clyde!burl!hou3c!hocda!houxm!houxu!welsch
From: welsch@houxu.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Rape of the Male
Message-ID: <299@houxu.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 24-Jan-84 07:53:30 EST
Article-I.D.: houxu.299
Posted: Tue Jan 24 07:53:30 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 27-Jan-84 06:53:49 EST
Organization: Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 38

(to the eater of first lines)

Since few people seem to be aware of the realities of rape of
males, I will give you my reasons why I think it is worse for a man to
be raped than a woman.

First, men tend to be raped in situations where there is no long term
escape, such as in prison, armed services, or at sea. After a rape most
women can arrange their lives differently so that they are less likely
to get raped, ie. add locks, move, get police protection, not walk on
that lonely street. For the male, due to the location this is not
possible. Since this is true the rape becomes not an isolated instance,
but a part of his life for a long period. This has long term effects. 

Second, the rape tends not to be a single man raping a single man, but
a group phenomenon, part of the ritual of establishing the pecking order
in the group. Hence , the rape establishes a social position amongs the
man's peers, ie. it is the weakest member of the group who is raped.
Once the rape has occurred the man is literally at the bottom of the
pecking order and subject to rape and dominance by all other male
members present.  Thus the rape leads directly to subservience on the
part of the person raped.

Third, the rape not only threatens the male's sexuality, but his whole
sexual role.  He is forced to take a role that he has been taught
belongs to the woman.  Thus threatening his whole being.  The man
may become impotent, and totally incapable of enjoying sex.

Fourth, society tends to ignore the whole issue. Rape in prison is felt
by many people to be part of the punishment. Rape in the armed services
is considered to be part of the toughening. Men tend to take a harsh,
non sympathetic attitude towards their peers.  Usually the man raped is
considered to be queer.  There are no such things as support groups or
special counciling for the raped man.

						Larry Welsch
						houxu!welsch