A qualitative investigation of service providers’ experiences supporting raped and sexually abused men

Widanaralalage, K., Hine, B., Murphy, A. and Murji, K. 2023. A qualitative investigation of service providers’ experiences supporting raped and sexually abused men. Violence and Victims. 38 (1), pp. 53-76. https://doi.org/10.1891/VV-2022-0084

TitleA qualitative investigation of service providers’ experiences supporting raped and sexually abused men
TypeJournal article
AuthorsWidanaralalage, K., Hine, B., Murphy, A. and Murji, K.
Abstract

Substantial gaps remain in our understanding of the risks and barriers that exist for men affected by rape and sexual abuse. The present research utilised semi-structured interviews with twelve service providers from specialist organisations in the UK. An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) revealed three superordinate themes: i) survivors’ needs for agency, safety, and control as functions of their masculinity, ii) the impact of rape myths and their challenge to therapeutic intervention, and iii) 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 UK, and avenues for improvement are suggested.

Keywordsrape
men’s victimisation
masculinity
rape myths
service providers
JournalViolence and Victims
Journal citation38 (1), pp. 53-76
ISSN0886-6708
1945-7073
Year2023
PublisherSpringer
Accepted author manuscript
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1891/VV-2022-0084
Publication dates
PublishedJan 2023

Related outputs

Prevalence, Disclosure, and Help Seeking in Black and Asian Male Survivors of Sexual Violence in the United Kingdom: A Rapid Review
Widanaralalage Don, K., Jennings, S., Dando, C.J. and Mackenzie, J.-M. 2024. Prevalence, Disclosure, and Help Seeking in Black and Asian Male Survivors of Sexual Violence in the United Kingdom: A Rapid Review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. 25 (4), pp. 3299-3314. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380241246217

Does perpetrator gender influence attitudes towards intimate partner violence (IPV)? Examining the relationship between male-perpetrated and female-perpetrated IPV attitudes among a sample of UK young adults
Conroy, E., Willmott, D., Murphy, A., Widanaralalage, B.K. and Widanaralalage Don, K. 2023. Does perpetrator gender influence attitudes towards intimate partner violence (IPV)? Examining the relationship between male-perpetrated and female-perpetrated IPV attitudes among a sample of UK young adults. Mental Health and Social Inclusion. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1108/mhsi-05-2023-0057

Male survivors of sexual violence: a rapid review of prevalence, disclosure and factors influencing help seeking for ethnic minorities
Jennings, S., Widanaralalage Don, K., Mackenzie, J.-M. and Dando, C.J. 2023. Male survivors of sexual violence: a rapid review of prevalence, disclosure and factors influencing help seeking for ethnic minorities. NIHR.

Male victims of sexual violence and their welfare in the Criminal Justice System
Widanaralalage, K., Hine, B. A. and Murphy, A. D. 2023. Male victims of sexual violence and their welfare in the Criminal Justice System . in: Tarrant, A., Ladlow, L. and Way, L. (ed.) Men and their Welfare London Routledge.

Cybercrimes in the aftermath of COVID-19: Present concerns and future directions
Ng, M., Widanaralalage, B. K., Buchanan, T. and Coopamootoo, K. 2022. Cybercrimes in the aftermath of COVID-19: Present concerns and future directions. Journal of Concurrent Disorders. https://doi.org/10.54127/LWVW7835

Distorted Reality: A Commentary on DiMarco et al. (2022) and the Question of Male Sexual Victimization
Widanaralalage Don, K., Shon M. Reed, Maria João Lobo Antunes, Christina DeJong, Gillian M. Pinchevsky, Rachel Lovell and Cristy E. Cummings 2022. Distorted Reality: A Commentary on DiMarco et al. (2022) and the Question of Male Sexual Victimization. Sexuality & Culture. 26, pp. 2122-2137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-022-09988-0

Listening to ‘Leading Voices’: Using expert insight to identify challenges to, and suggestions for the improvement of, rape investigation and prosecution in England and Wales
Hine, B. A., Murphy, A. D., Williams, E. and Widanaralalage Don, K. 2022. Listening to ‘Leading Voices’: Using expert insight to identify challenges to, and suggestions for the improvement of, rape investigation and prosecution in England and Wales. in: Johnson, E. (ed.) Challenges in Criminal Justice Routledge.

“I Didn’t Feel I Was A Victim”: A Phenomenological Analysis of the Experiences of Male-on-male Survivors of Rape and Sexual Abuse
Widanaralalage, B. K., Hine, B.A., Murphy, A.D. and Murji, K. 2022. “I Didn’t Feel I Was A Victim”: A Phenomenological Analysis of the Experiences of Male-on-male Survivors of Rape and Sexual Abuse. Victims & Offenders. 17 (8), pp. 1147-1172. https://doi.org/10.1080/15564886.2022.2069898

Mapping the landscape of male-on-male rape in London: an analysis of cases involving male victims reported between 2005 and 2012
Hine, B.A., Murphy, A.D., Yesberg, J.A., Wunsch, D., Charleton, B. and Widanaralalage Don, K. 2021. Mapping the landscape of male-on-male rape in London: an analysis of cases involving male victims reported between 2005 and 2012. Police Practice and Research. 22 (1), pp. 109-126. https://doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2020.1843458

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/vx27w/a-qualitative-investigation-of-service-providers-experiences-supporting-raped-and-sexually-abused-men


Share this

Usage statistics

246 total views
99 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.