How Can a Man Be Raped? Unnoticed Sexual Offences in Men: The Silent Scars Beneath Masculinity

When conversations around sexual offences emerge, the victim is almost reflexively imagined as a woman. Yet, hidden within layers of social conditioning, stigma, and disbelief lies an uncomfortable truth — men, too, are victims of sexual assault. Their pain is often dismissed, their trauma mocked, and their narratives buried under the weight of toxic expectations of masculinity.

The Invisible Statistic

Globally, studies suggest that 1 in 6 men experience some form of sexual abuse in their lifetime. Yet, less than 10% ever report it. In India, the silence is even more deafening — the legal framework (IPC Section 375, now clause 63 under BNS) defines rape exclusively in terms of female victims and male perpetrators. Male survivors are legally invisible.

This invisibility is not due to a lack of incidents but due to the refusal of society to see them.

In custodial setups, educational institutions, correctional facilities, and even intimate relationships, sexual coercion against men exists, often masked as “initiation,” “hazing,” or “power play.” These are not acts of desire — they are acts of dominance.

The Psychological Paradox of Masculinity

For men, the trauma of sexual violation is compounded by cultural disbelief. A male victim who comes forward is often asked:

• “Why didn’t you fight back?”

• “How can a man be raped?”

• “Are you sure you didn’t enjoy it?”

In reality, male survivors often experience the same post-traumatic sequelae as women — PTSD, depression, erectile dysfunction, dissociation, and suicidal ideation. Yet, they lack both legal recourse and emotional validation.

Many internalise their trauma as shame. Some develop aggression, substance abuse, or sexual dysfunction. Others become emotionally withdrawn.

Sexual Offence is not a Gendered Crime

Sexual violence is fundamentally about power, not pleasure. It can occur in any direction — male to female, female to male, or same-sex.

Women perpetrators, though fewer, do exist — sometimes manipulating consent through emotional coercion, intoxication, or threats. In cases involving minors, female abusers often escape accountability because of the myth that a boy’s “early sexual experience” with an older woman is a “rite of passage” rather than a violation.

Such narratives not only normalise abuse but distort male sexuality for life, teaching boys that pain must be eroticized and boundaries must be blurred.

Institutional and Legal Blind Spots

Indian law recognises “sexual harassment” of men at workplaces under certain civil remedies, but fails to acknowledge rape against them. Even under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), which is gender-neutral for minors, male victims often face procedural insensitivity.

There is no official helpline, reporting framework, or counselling support dedicated to adult male survivors.

The result is predictable — silence, denial, and sometimes, a tragic repetition of cycles of abuse.

Breaking the Silence: The Way Forward

To truly address sexual violence, we must ungender the conversation.

1. Legal Reform: Amend IPC Section 375 to include gender-neutral definitions of sexual assault.

2. Institutional Awareness: Train law enforcement and healthcare professionals to identify and handle male survivors sensitively.

3. Mental Health Support: Establish trauma-informed therapy programs tailored to men, focusing on sexual identity, body autonomy, and emotional literacy.

4. Public Dialogue: Use media, education, and storytelling to challenge stereotypes of invulnerability in men.

5. Community Responsibility: Families, schools, and workplaces must recognise that anyone can be a victim — and everyone deserves justice.

A Closing Reflection

The silence of men is not strength — it is suppression.
The laughter that follows a male survivor’s confession is not humour — it is cruelty.
And the society that ignores his cry for help is not civilised — it is complicit.

Until we acknowledge that sexual offence has no gender, we continue to fail both victims and justice itself.

Reference: 

1. Peterson ZD, Voller EK, Polusny MA, Murdoch M. Prevalence and Consequences of Adult Sexual Assault of Men: Review of Empirical Findings and State of the Literature. Psychology of Men & Masculinity. 2011;12(1):19–29.
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10135558/

2. RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). Get the Facts About Sexual Violence Against Men & Boys.
   https://www.rainn.org/get-information/effects-of-sexual-violence/men-and-boys 

3. Stemple L, Flores A, Meyer IH. Sexual Victimisation Perpetrated by Women: Federal Data Reveal Surprising Prevalence. American Journal of Public Health. 2014;104(6):e19–e26.
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4062022/

4. 1in6 Organization. Support for Men Who Have Had Unwanted or Abusive Sexual Experiences.
   https://1in6.org/

5. Find a Helpline (India).Sexual Abuse Support Hotlines and Services in India.
   https://findahelpline.com/countries/in/topics/sexual-abuse