TY - JOUR
T1 - A qualitative investigation of service providers' experiences supporting raped and sexually abused men
AU - Widanaralalage, B Kennath
AU - Hine, Benjamin A
AU - Murphy, Anthony D
AU - Murji, Karim
N1 - © Copyright 2023 Springer Publishing Company, LLC.
PY - 2023/1/30
Y1 - 2023/1/30
N2 - Substantial gaps remain in our understanding of the risks and barriers that exist for men affected by rape and sexual abuse. The present research utilized semi-structured interviews with 12 service providers from specialist organizations in the United Kingdom. An interpretative phenomenological analysis revealed three superordinate themes: (a) survivors' needs for agency, safety, and control as functions of their masculinity; (b) the impact of rape myths and their challenge to therapeutic intervention; and (c) survivors' expectations around reporting and the police. The role of masculinity and social stigma permeated participants' accounts, with negative stereotypes and male rape myths influencing reporting, access to services, and survivors' coping mechanisms. Results are discussed in relation to current service provision within the United Kingdom, and avenues for improvement are suggested.
AB - Substantial gaps remain in our understanding of the risks and barriers that exist for men affected by rape and sexual abuse. The present research utilized semi-structured interviews with 12 service providers from specialist organizations in the United Kingdom. An interpretative phenomenological analysis revealed three superordinate themes: (a) survivors' needs for agency, safety, and control as functions of their masculinity; (b) the impact of rape myths and their challenge to therapeutic intervention; and (c) survivors' expectations around reporting and the police. The role of masculinity and social stigma permeated participants' accounts, with negative stereotypes and male rape myths influencing reporting, access to services, and survivors' coping mechanisms. Results are discussed in relation to current service provision within the United Kingdom, and avenues for improvement are suggested.
U2 - 10.1891/VV-2022-0084
DO - 10.1891/VV-2022-0084
M3 - Article
C2 - 36717192
SN - 0886-6708
JO - Violence and victims
JF - Violence and victims
ER -