Sexual violence has been a continuous problem throughout human history. As of recently, with movements such as #MeToo and an ever-growing advocacy for the support of sexual assault victims, people who have gone through sexual assault have found a base to seek out aid and justice.
As college students, we must be aware that college campuses are sadly common grounds for sexual violence. In fact, sexual assault is more prevalent in college campuses than any other crime. 11.2% of all college students (both male and female) experience some type of sexual violence during their academic careers.
Men are not exempt from sexual violence, and it is important to raise awareness of this issue. In a society that raises men to see themselves as incapable of being victims—combined with the inherent victim-blaming when sexual assault victims come forward—men face a certain difficulty when coming forward about their sexual assault experiences.
Below is a list of important things to know when talking about male sexual assault victims:
1. 1 in 10 rape victims are men.
As of 1998, 2.78 million men in the United States had been victims of attempted or completed rape.
2. Male college students are at a higher risk of sexual assault than non-college students.
Studies find that male college students are five times more likely of suffering from sexual assault than non-students.
3. 53.2% of UPRM students have experienced some type of sexual harassment.
In a recent study of 1,204 students, the UPRM administration found that over half of the student population has experienced sexual harassment.
4. 73.2% of sexual assailants were other students.
In the same study, the UPRM administration found that other students are more likely to sexually assault campus students.
5. More male non-tenure personnel have experienced sexual harassment on campus.
Being the only category in the campus study where no difference was found between male and female victims, 56.7% of male non-tenure personnel state that they believe sexual harassment to be a prevalent problem in the UPRM campus.
6. Only 4% of students formally reported their sexual assault.
Sexual violence often goes unreported. This is likely due fear of consequences in the victim and the long process of reporting, that does not seem to guarantee justice for the victim.
It is important that we stay aware of the sexual violence polemic and how it affects the men and women that go through it. We must continue working towards a conscious society where victims are not afraid to come forward and assailants are properly condemned.
If you are a male Colegio student and have experienced sexual violence, you have places to seek aid. You can contact the Calidad de Vida office at (787) 832-4040 ext. 5467 or 3107, or visit them on the first floor of the Decanato de Estudiantes. You can also contact the Grupo de Apoyo de Hombres del RUM.
Note: all statistics were taken from rainn.org and the sexual harassment study conducted by the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez campus administration published on March 6, 2018.