• To contact an SOS Victim Advocate, call the UD Helpline 24/7/365 at 302-831-1001 and press 1. The clinician will check to make sure you are safe, then take a first name & phone number and have an Advocate call you back within 10 minutes.

For Male Survivors

For Male Survivors

A common myth is that only women are victims of sexual assault and dating/domestic violence.  Men also experience these crimes.

  • 1 in 10 children experience childhood sexual abuse – or broken down by gender, 1 in 7 girls and 1 in 25 boys (Darkness to Light study, 2013).
  • Among undergraduate students, 23.1% of females and 5.4% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation. (David Cantor, Bonnie Fisher, Susan Chibnall, Reanna Townsend, et. al. Association of American Universities (AAU), Report on the AAU Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct – September 21, 2015 as quoted by RAINN).
  • The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NIPSVS) found that nearly 1 in 5 women (18.3%) and 1 in 71 men (1.4%) in the US have been raped at some point in their lives.   And approximately 1 in 21 men (4.8%) reported that they were made to penetrate someone else during their lifetime, either by intimate partner or an acquaintance. (National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, December 2011).
  • The NIPSVS (2011) found that about 1 in 4 women (24.3%) and 1 in 7 men (13.8%) have experienced severe physical violence (hit with fist or something hard, beaten, slammed against something) by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime. Nearly half of all women (48.4%) and men (48.8%) in the U.S. have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner.  (National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, December 2011).

Sexual assault is a crime of power and control, whether the victim is male or female.  It is difficult for survivors of sexual assault to seek help, and is even more difficult for men due to societal messages about masculinity and what it means to be male.  Harmful ideas like “real men cannot be raped”, or messages that getting help means weakness cause men to feel shame and embarrassment and to keep silent.  Some men avoid seeking help for fear of not being taken seriously.  In reality, reaching out for help is a sign of strength.  S.O.S. has both male and female Advocates and you can request to speak to either, if you have a preference. We hope that you will take the first step and call.

In addition, whether you have been assaulted recently, were abused as a child, or you are a survivor seeking general information, the resources provided throughout this site are for you and you may want to read through to learn more about your options.  And if talking to someone is not for you, try online chat:

1 in 6.org together with RAINN operates a 24/7 online chat option for male survivors, as well as online peer support.

For more information about sexual assault of male victims, a list of internet resources is provided below. Some provide bibliographies and/or links to even more resources.

1 in 6.org

Articles, Stories, Information for Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Male Survivor: National Organization on Male Sexual Victimization

Darkness 2 Light

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