There is an uncomfortable truth that goes unspoken, and that is that men are raped more than we know or talk about. Statistics of sexual assault against men can vary, and because of the underreporting, it can be impossible to get a true idea of how many men have been sexually assaulted. The American Crime network show focuses on a gripping and powerful story centered on how young adult men struggle to get ahead along with stigma and gender roles that prevent many from telling their story and getting help dealing with their trauma. .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a study that showed that among more than 130 college campuses and 5,000 college students, one in 25 men answered “yes” when asked if they had been forced to have sexual intercourse against of his will. Research from other organizations estimates that one in six men is sexually assaulted before the age of 18. Men and boys who have been sexually assaulted often experience unique challenges with their traumatic experience. Adult men who were sexually abused as children or adolescents may respond differently than men who were sexually assaulted as adults due to differences in expectations of gender norms and their development.
Children are raised from a young age with messages like “be strong” or “don’t be a fag and cry!” Often the signs that abuse has occurred with children and adolescents appear in the way they function at home and at school. With adult men, the aftermath of their sexual assault is often seen in PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), which makes their relationships withdrawn and nervous. One of the challenges that male victims of sexual assault fear is that they will be ridiculed or not taken seriously. Another challenge is that men feel ashamed that they cannot prevent the assault from occurring and have confusion and concerns about their sexual orientation if they experience a physiological response to the assault, such as becoming aroused and ejaculating during the assault. Being sexually assaulted can be unbearable for men who don’t want to be seen as ‘victims’ because it goes against the messages they were raised with of what it means to be a ‘real man’.
The writers of American Crime have tackled this issue head-on in the story that follows a community trying to make sense of an allegation of sexual assault by a young man at a high school basketball team party. Student Taylor Blaine, receiving financial aid at an expensive high school, discovers that photos of him drunk and looking incoherent at a basketball team victory party have been posted and mocked online. With a history of bullying at his school, Taylor tells his mother that the photos were taken after he had been drugged and sexually assaulted. From there, the story depicts Taylor’s mother’s uphill battle to make sure the school and the authorities track down the guilty children. American Crime brings to light how people’s perspectives can change from parents and law enforcement questioning what happened to denying it and trying to sweep it under the rug. Blaine’s character, who was raped, is shown telling his therapist how he felt ridiculed by reporting his story to the police. “People lose their minds when something happens to a girl. They have rights groups that support them. But a man? I just want it to be over.”
Talking about surviving sexual assault or abuse can be difficult. If you are a man who has been sexually assaulted or you know someone who has been raped, it is important for you to realize how important it is to come forward and speak up. When men decide to come forward, it is important that the people around them believe and support them. It is important that they are allowed to make their own decisions about what actions to take. Coming forward and telling your story to loved ones and seeking professional help from a therapist requires trust, compassion, and understanding. A strong message that anyone who has been sexually assaulted needs to hear is that she is not alone.