Male On Male Rape: The Hidden Toll of Stigma and Shame

False assumptions and popular stereotypes help us to ignore one society's most troubling problems - the rape of men by other men. A subject rarely discussed, let alone explored beyond tasteless jokes, same-sex sexual violence can burden survivors with an overwhelming sense of misery and confusion.Male on Male Rape examines a form of violence that, despite worldwide prevalence, remains vastly underreported and unrecognized. Michael Scarce, coordinator of a rape education and prevention program and a survivor of adult male rape, investigates the substantial effects of male-on-male sexual violence on individuals and society, dispelling popular myths and questioning why most communities cannot or will not confront the problem of same-sex sexual violence. This groundbreaking book is the culmination of years of research that includes numerous interviews with straight and gay male rape survivors, an analysis of popular media, case studies, and the author's own personal and professional experience.

The belief that men are not raped, or raped only behind prison walls, perpetuates the cruel stigma attached to male rape. Men who are sexually assaulted tend not to report their victimization, seek medical attention, or get counseling. While rape is undoubtedly a crime of violence, male survivors are often shamed by the taboo of same-sex sexual contact, contributing to a sense of isolation and despair. Male on Male Rape brilliantly shatters the silence surrounding this sexual violence in our society while offering concrete initiatives and strategies for addressing the rape of men by men. It is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the prevention or rape or the healing of rape's devastating effects. Interweaving frank personal accounts and exhaustive scholarship, this is the comprehensive look at a disturbing phenomenon.

Michael Scarce is a doctoral student in medical sociology and Coordinator of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resources at University of California, San Francisco. He is the former Coordinator of Ohio State University's Rape Education and Prevention Program. Serving as a national consultant and lecturer on sexual health, he is also the author of Smearing the Queer: Medical Bias in the Health Care of Gay Men. His work has appeared in publications such as the Journal of Homosexuality, Journal of American College Health, POZ magazine and Mediphors: A Literary Journal of the Health Professions.