We rarely hear about the male species ever being raped or molested – straight to the point, right?  But it happens and people need to know. Personally I know boys who have been molested or raped, but they rarely talk about  it because they believe that it would go against their masculinity. I have even been told, “How are people going to believe me, I’m a boy, boys don’t go through this.” Society tells us how the opposite sex- guys- are supposed to be masculine so if a guy were to be molested by a female, their friends would think “ohh dude you’re the man” and if they’re molested by a male, people would think of them differently. Rape and sexual assault happens among both genders and people need to start talking about it. We need to give these victims a voice. So next time someone wants to talk to you about anything just let them talk. Sexual assault victims also need to know that what happened is not their fault, it does not make them “gay” or anything else, it makes them a survivor. These survivors need to know that what happened to them DOES NOT make them less manly.  If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or raped please call the national hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

Here are some stats on sexual assault among males in the U.S.:

1.)  23 percent of male victims were raped by a stranger

2.) 7.6 percent of men were raped and/or physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, cohabitating partner, or date at some time in their lifetime

3.) Boys were two times more likely than girls to have experienced their first rape prior to age 12

4.) Almost one fourth of men experienced their first sexual assault between the ages of 12 and 17

5.) Boys and girls who were sexually assaulted were nearly four and five times more likely, respectively, to struggle with substance abuse at some point in their life.

6.) One in six men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime

7.) One in thirty-three men will experience attempted or completed rape in their lifetime

Sources: medningthesoul, endsexualviolencect