Male rape: who are the offenders and victims?

This presentation will examine the available research on male sexual violation from early studies in American prisons and the pandemic represented compared to the low reported prevalence in English prisons. The definitional issues across the body of research in this field will also be considered together with the sometimes conflicting findings from clinical and community-based samples. Research gaps in the current literature will be emphasized that further highlight how underresearched the complexities and contexts of male rape are compared with those of female rape. In addition, barriers experienced by male victims that further inhibit reporting their sexual victimization to the police will be highlighted. Finally, policy recommendations on how to improve service provisions for male victims of sexual violence and suggestions for raising awareness of this crime will also be provided.