They fear being ignored, laughed at, disbelieved, shamed, accused of weakness, or questioned about being gay. For all these reasons, many male survivors remain silent and alone rather than risk further violation by those around them. That is not to say, however, that we should overlook boys or men who are victimized by females. As with female survivors, men are also sometimes raped by strangers. These situations tend to be more violent and more often involve a group of attackers rather than a single offender.
Rape affects men in many ways similar to women.
Anxiety, anger, sadness, confusion, fear, numbness, self-blame, helplessness, hopelessness, suicidal feelings and shame are common reactions of both male and female survivors. In some ways, though, men react uniquely to being sexually assaulted. Immediately after an assault, men may show more hostility and aggression rather than tearfulness and fear. Over time, they may also question their sexual identity, act out in a sexually aggressive manner, and even downplay the impact of the assault. This is a destructive myth that often adds to the anxiety a male survivor feels after being assaulted.