Feminism, masculinity and male rape: bringing male rape ‘out of the closet’

Abstract

Feminist research has played a pivotal role in uncovering the extent and nature of male violence against women and suggests that the main motivations for rape are the need for power, control and domination. This paper argues that, although feminist explanations of rape are robust and comprehensive, male victims of rape have largely been excluded from this field of research. While feminism has enabled the victimisation of women to be recognised, further understanding of the victimisation of men is required. Some feminist writers (such as hooks, 2000) have argued that men's emancipation is an essential part of feminism since men are equally harmed by gender role expectations and sexism. This paper makes a contribution to current knowledge through evaluating the social constructions, stigma and phenomenological realities associated with male rape (by both men and women), arguing that there has been neglect in this area that functions to support, maintain and reinforce patriarchal power relations and hegemonic masculinities.

Keywords::

• male rape
• sexual violence
• feminism
• gender equality
• gender expectations
• masculinity

Acknowledgements

I am very grateful to Dr Blu Tirohl for the helpful and insightful feedback and comments on an earlier version of this paper. I am also grateful to Dr Paul Johnson for his support and guidance. I would finally like to extend my gratitude to Dr Kaz Ali for inspiring me and for all his inspiring words throughout the time it took to complete this paper.

Notes

^1. This paper will solely focus on adult male rape victims rather than male children who are raped, prison rape and rapes that are also war crimes; these are very important areas for research that fall beyond the scope of this paper.

^2. ‘Victimology’ is a branch of criminology, which essentially is the study of victims.

^3. ‘Hegemonic masculinities’ refers to the culturally idealised patterns (practices, norms, and forms) of masculinity that perpetuate patriarchy. Essentially, the concept refers to the ideal or model of masculinity.

^4. For functionalism, each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society's functioning and stability as a whole; in other words, society is held together by social consensus, wherein members of the society concur upon, and work collectively to achieve, stability and solidarity (see Merton, 1957).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Aliraza Javaid

Aliraza Javaid is a PhD student at the University of York, UK and he also teaches Sociology and Criminology at the University of York, Department of Sociology. He has an MRes in Social Sciences, an MSc in Clinical Criminology and a BSc (hons) Criminology. His research interests include gendered patterns in offending, risk behaviour and victimisation as well as the associated criminal/social justice and public policy.