A Critical Discussion Of Potential Barriers For Male Victims

The determination of gender identity is much deeper than whether a person is born a male or a female. The exact identifier that separates gender identity is currently unknown but researchers believe that genetics, hormones, reproductive organs, biological, and environmental factors all play a role in distinguishing a person’s gender identity. A person’s physical gender and their sense of gender are formed at two different times in two different parts of the body. A person’s gender is whether they are born male or female, but the way they identify themselves may be the opposite, which is not uncommon and has occurred since the beginning of time. In culture males are known to be the stronger, more aggressive sex, while females are the

The stereotype of who a typical sexual assault victim is, is also detrimental to abide by as male victims of sexual assault will often fear being blamed and feel emasculated as a result of their victimisation. The continuation of stereotypic types of victims when considering a certain crime can often distort the seriousness of sexual

Although men and women have significant biological differences, the question whether gender-specific labels stems from these biological differences or are gender constructed remains a polarised nature versus nurture debate. Whether it is through the process of socialisation or genetic make-up, “gender identity” is given from a person’s birth, determining how a person culturally interacts and the expectations society places on them. Along with a “gender identity” comes a whole set of “norms”, “values” and so-called “gender characteristics”, which are supposed to define the differences between a male and a female. According to the World Health Organisation (n.d.), the term “sex” is often used to define the biological and physiological

The stereotypical labeling of genders can determine one person’s outlook on life. The judgment can make one feel like there is a set rubric to follow in order to remain in the lines regarding which gender they belong to. Such influences from peers or partners can alter

The sociology of gender is one of the largest subfields within sociology; sociological gender studies look at the social construction of gender and how gender interacts with other social structures within society (Crossman, 2016). It Is important that one understands the difference between sex and gender to understand the sociology of gender; unlike gender, sex is biologically determined and relates to the reproductive organs a person has. In order to separate gender and sex sociologists use different pronouns; when discussing gender, sociologists use the terms man/woman and when discussing sex sociologists will use the terms male/female (Crossman, 2016). Although most people fall into wither the category of male or female, some people are born with ‘sex organs’ that do not clearly fit into either of the two specific sex categories, these people are known as intersex (Ashley Crossman, 2016). Gender is described as a social classification based on one’s identity and how one presents themselves to the world; this identity relates to the way one behaves and interacts within society. Many sociologists view gender as a learned behaviour and look at gendered identities as being culturally produced which makes gendered identities socially constructed (Crossman,

A person’s sex is determined on the basis of three fundamental human physiognomies, chromosomes (XX for a female and XY for a male), gonads (ovaries for females and testes for males) and the obvious being genitals (vagina for a females and a penis for males). However socially, gender identity is formulated on the grounds of stereotypical roles from both

Sexual assault happens ubiquitously and has been accounted for crosswise over different societies and among all demographic and financial gatherings. Numerous sexual assault victims still postpone reporting or don't report viciousness sexual occurrences at all. A rape victim may delay care due to fear of their perpetrator (Adefolalu, 2014). Victims who go to their primary physicians may experience a delay because the doctor also may not have adequate expertise (LeVay & Baldwin, 2011.) Health care providers are required to report all sexual abuse and rapes to the police(LeVay & Baldwin, 2011, Adefolalu, 2014). However, the victim may not oblige in cooperation or press charges. A victim may have a plethora of evidence

This stems from the stereotypes concerning male sex roles, sexual motivation, and sexual functioning. In our society, sexual assault is a major social problem and researchers are beginning to delve more into the topic. This is because there are significant psychological problems that happen after an assault. One problem is that not much scientific research has been done that has been attentive to male victims and their needs. The researchers hypothesized that a male victim of female sexual assault would be judged as more likely to have encouraged or initiated the assault, less likely to be able to be forced to have sex, more likely to have enjoyed the interaction because of the physical reaction, and less likely to experience high stress from the event.

Men do not want to be seen as weak, or feminine; two stigmas commonly used to characterize rape victims. Women are seen as weak and subordinate, to be overpowered by a woman and forced to do something contradicts social norms. In America, women can be convicted of rape, but in the United Kingdom, rape is defined by the involvement of penetration (Silent Suffering 4). In some places of the world, when a man is assaulted by a woman it is not even considered a crime. These victims have to face a more serve backlash. Robbie Woodsum, a student at George Mason University, explained how men are less comfortable reporting their assaults because of the emphasis on the crime being only against females (The Hunting

Genderism refers to the idea that there are only two ways to fit into socially normative views of gender: male or female. This term also fortifies the notion that gender, and the gender which one identifies with, is inherently connected to the biological makeup of the genitalia they were assigned with at birth. Genderism is seen as a cultural belief, and therefore is a commonly shared perspective amongst people in many regions of the world. For those who were born into a culture where genderism is practiced, it can be difficult to formulate opposing opinions and viewpoints regarding gender. Moreover, this causes individuals to subconsciously place people into categories or a binary, which as a result, excludes multiple individuals and restricts many from being true to who they are. Hall (2013) stated in his work,that while it is necessary for humans to sort new information into ‘types’ in their brains to comprehend meaning, it is critical not to limit individuals to these types. Furthermore, with the knowledge and technology at the hands of scientists and researchers today, limitations of gender and gender identification

The concept of gender has a strong social impact on me. When I was born, I was immediately assigned to a biological sex as a female with two X chromosomes. I was then socially classified as a girl in the society with feminine gender roles. Gender is defined as a social principle which attribute to the roles and expectations of males and females through the years of different societies (Phillips, 2005). Gender can be considered as behavioural, cultural and psychological traits

The main reason we will examine is “Rape Myth Acceptance” (Stahl, Eek, & Kazemi). According to Stahl, Eek, and Kazemi, rape myths are beliefs that are mostly untrue but widely accepted as a means to justify sexual aggression towards females (2010). Some examples of rape myth acceptance include: the belief that a women is lying about the rape and the belief that the woman did something to provoke the rape. The public uses these beliefs to make victims feel ashamed about the crime that took place. As a result of this, women are “highly reluctant to report that they have been raped” (Stahl, Eek, & Kazemi 2010). As well as very unlikely to testify in a court of law against their attacker. There is an underlining belief that there is always some way that the victim could have prevented the crime which proves detrimental when attempting to get the victim to

Due to cultural assumptions about gender, sex research over the past two centuries has been centered around searching for expected answers to our societies eager questions about gender. Genetic research surrounding the sexes has been so intertwined with gender politics and stereotypes of gender norms that today, it is hard to differentiate sex and gender, Richardson in her book, Sex Itself outlines how genetic research has led to flawed ideas about sex and gender, which are now being reinforced with continuing genetic research that perpetuates these ideas of gender and sex chromosomes as a fixed binary, with huge influence on one’s behaviors, goals, and aspirations. Throughout the entirety of the book, Richardson examines how social norms affect

As stated above, one reason males being raped by females is not commonly known is because victims blame themselves. Male victims of rape, like female victims, are likely to be blamed by others for their own rape (Anderson, 2004). When victims blame themselves multiple questions run through their mind to where in the end they blame themselves for the action occurring and not want to tell anyone due to fear of embarrassment. Due to stereotypes, multiple studies have shown that male victims of rape are being blame for their assault. Male victims tend to be blamed more than female victims on behavior blame measures, due to societal stereotypes that a man should be able to defend for themselves (Davies and Rogers, 2006). However, women are not expected to be able to defend for themselves. While male victims are held responsible for the rape on account of their behavior during the attack, female victims are attributed more blame on account of their internal characteristics (Doherty and Anderson, 2004). Stating that males are blamed for not being masculine enough to fight off their attacker and females are blamed for putting themselves in that situation when they should have been safer. The fact that males can be victims of rape challenges may beliefs about men’s masculinity. Males that identify as homosexual are judged to be more at fault than males that identify as heterosexual (Davis and Rogers, 2006). Homosexual males are seen as violating gender role

My assumptions about gender have changed dramatically throughout the years and—honestly—in the past few months due to friends who have identified as someone other than a man or woman. When I think about gender, I immediately think that someone, more than likely, identifies as a man or a woman. My conditioning—or my influences—have shaped this in my life; however, there are multitudinous ways to describe someone’s gender or lack thereof, when I actually think