In the reading “Sexual Violence Against Men and Women In War: A Masculinities Approach” by Valorie K. Vojdik, I was very fascinated with page 932 which discuses the fact that homosexuality is a crime in 70 states (at the time written, 69 as of 2021), which in turn makes men less likely to report accounts of sexual assault from another man–or even at all!
The reason that these men are shamed, feel guilt, etc. is due to the social construct of masculinity–on page 926 of the same reading referenced beforehand, Vojdik says “Masculinty is not a fixed identity, but rather a social practice of gender that constructs men as masculine and heterosexual, defined in opposition to those men who are perceived as effeminate or homosexual, and women.”
Men are forced to repress these emotions, thoughts, and experiences in order to represent their “masculinity”. Sexual violence against men has occurred throughout history, and while women are finally getting to the point where their voices are heard, society still represses men to act as if this sexual assault against them is normal, not a “true crime”, while against women in it is defined as sexual violence, and is represented more in society.
Below is an article I read that opened up my eyes as far as statistics and life impacts on boys/men.