Rape by gender

This article classifies types of rape by the sex of both the rapist and the victim. The scope of the article includes both rape and sexual violence more generally.

Since only a small percentage of acts of sexual violence are brought to the attention of the authorities, it is impossible to compile accurate statistics. There are nevertheless statistical estimates published by some official bodies. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (1999) estimated that 91% of United States rape victims were female and 9% were male, with 99% of the offenders being male and 1% of the offenders being female.^[1] Several studies argue that male-male and female-female prison rape are quite common and may be the least reported form of rape.^[2][3][4]

Rape of females by males

In a 2000 research article from the Home Office, in England and Wales, around 1 in 20 women (4.9%) said that they had been raped at some point in their life from the age of 16 beyond.^[5]

A woman's physiological response to sexual contact is involuntary. In some cases, women can become physically aroused, produce natural lubrication, and even experience orgasms against their will during rape.^[6]

Pregnancy may result from rape. The rate varies between settings and depends particularly on the extent to which non-barrier contraceptives are being used. A study of adolescents in Ethiopia found that among those who reported being raped, 17% became pregnant after the rape,^[7] a figure which is similar to the 15–18% reported by rape crisis centres in Mexico.^[8][9] A longitudinal study in the United States of over 4000 women followed for 3 years found that the national rape related pregnancy rate was 5.0% per rape among victims aged 12–45 years, producing over 32,000 pregnancies nationally among women from rape each year.^[10] Experience of coerced sex at an early age reduces a woman’s ability to see her sexuality as something over which she has control.^{[11][12][13][14]}

Rape of males by males

Several studies argue that male-male prisoner rape, as well as female-female prisoner rape, might be the most common and least-reported forms of rape, with some studies suggesting such rapes are substantially more common in both per-capita and raw-number totals than male-female rapes in the general population.^[2][15][16]

Research from the UK suggests that almost 3% of men reported a non-consensual sexual experience as adults and over 5% of men reported sexual abuse as a child.^[17] This does not take into account the possibility of exaggeration or false reports nor of underreporting. Recognition of male on male rape in law has historically been limited; the first successful prosecution for attempted male on male rape in the UK was not until 1995.

Male on male rape has historically been shrouded in secrecy due to the stigma men associate with being raped by other men. According to psychologist Dr Sarah Crome fewer than one in ten male-male rapes are reported. As a group, male rape victims reported a lack of services and support, and legal systems are often ill equipped to deal with this type of crime.^[18]

The rape of men by men has been documented as a weapon of terror in warfare.^[19]

Rape of males by females

Contrary to popular opinion, women also can commit an act of rape with force or deception to make a man engage in a non-consensual penetrative sexual act. However, due to social double standards, reports are rarely taken seriously, if made at all. According to "Court TV"'s "Crime Library",^{[citation needed]} women commit about 2% of all sexual offenses and their abuse often involves their own child or children, but this statistic does not mention how many, if any, of these cases of abuse were rape.

Statutory female-on-male rape

Several widely publicized cases of female-on-male statutory rape in the United States involved school teachers raping their underage students. (See e.g. Mary Kay Letourneau or Debra Lafave)

In the case of statutory rape, the victim can be legally bound to pay child support to his rapist in the US.^[20]

Non-statutory female-on-male rape

Much like female erectile response and contrary to popular opinion, male erectile response is involuntary,^[21][22] meaning that a man need not consent mentally or physically for his penis to become erect and be placed in a woman's vagina. Penetration of a man by a woman is possible through use of a strap-on or other object. Rape of a man by a woman could also occur when limited sexual activities are agreed upon and a man's penis is placed in a woman in violation of the limits that had been set. Rape of a man by a woman is thus possible in several ways.

However, male victims of sexual abuse by females^[23] often face social, political, and legal double standards.^[24] While gender-neutral laws have combated the older perception that rape never occurs to men,^[25] and other laws have eliminated the term altogether,^[26] the double standards still remain. Due to these reasons, it is likely being substantially under-reported, with the probable cause being the double standard, or possibly shame.^[27]

Rape of females by females

Female-on-female rape is often labeled "lesbian rape", though the sexual orientation of one or both (or more) persons involved may or may not actually be lesbian. Forced penetration by another woman is possible with the use of strap-ons, dildos, other foreign objects and digital penetration.

A few books, such as Violent Betrayal: Partner Abuse in Lesbian Relationships by Dr. Claire M. Renzetti,^[28] No More Secrets: Violence in Lesbian Relationships by Janice Ristock,^[29] and Woman-to-Woman Sexual Violence: Does She Call It Rape? by Lori B. Girshick^[30] also cover the topic of rape of women by other women.

References

1. ^ "UCSC Rape Prevention Education: Rape Statistics". www2.ucsc.edu. http://www2.ucsc.edu/rape-prevention/statistics.html. Retrieved 2008-01-01.  The study was conducted in Detroit, USA.
2. ^ ^{a b} Human Rights WatchNo Escape: Male Rape In U.S. Prisons. Part VII. Anomaly or Epidemic: The Incidence of Prisoner-on-Prisoner Rape.; estimates that 100,000–140,000 violent male-male rapes occur in U.S. prisons annually; compare with FBI statistics that estimated 90,000 violent male-female rapes occur annually.
3. ^ Robert W. Dumond, "Ignominious Victims: Effective Treatment of Male Sexual Assault in Prison," August 15, 1995, p. 2; states that "evidence suggests that [male-male sexual assault in prison] may a staggering problem"). Quoted in Mariner, Joanne; (Organization), Human Rights Watch (2001-04-17). No escape: male rape in U.S. prisons. Human Rights Watch. p. 370. ISBN 9781564322586. http://books.google.com/?id=QkFfYfEO5IgC&pg=PA370. Retrieved 7 June 2010. 
4. ^ Struckman-Johnson, Cindy; David Struckman-Johnson (2006). "A Comparison of Sexual Coercion Experiences Reported by Men and Women in Prison". Journal of Interpersonal Violence 21 (12): 1591–1615. doi:10.1177/0886260506294240. ISSN 0886-2605. PMID 17065656. ; reports that "Greater percentages of men (70%) than women (29%) reported that their incident resulted in oral, vaginal, or anal sex. More men (54%) than women (28%) reported an incident that was classified as rape."
5. ^ Rape and sexual assault of women: findings from the British Crime Survey. (PDF) . Retrieved on 2011-10-01.
6. ^ Roy J. Levin; Willy van Berlo (2004-04). "Sexual arousal and orgasm in subjects who experience forced or non-consensual sexual stimulation – a review". Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine (elsevier.com) 11 (2): 82–88. doi:10.1016/j.jcfm.2003.10.008. PMID 15261004. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1353113103001536. Retrieved 2008-06-08. 
7. ^ Mulugeta, E; Kassaye, M; Berhane, Y (1998). "Mulugeta E, Kassaye M, Berhane Y. Prevalence and outcomes of sexual violence among high school students". Ethiopian medical journal 36 (3): 167–74. PMID 10214457. 
8. ^ Evaluacio´n de proyecto para educacio´n, capacitacio´n y atencio´n a mujeres y menores de edad en materia de violencia sexual, enero a diciembre 1990. [An evaluation of a project to provide education, training and care for women and minors affected by sexual violence, January–December 1990.] Mexico City, Asociación Mexicana contra la Violencia a las Mujeres, 1990.
9. ^ Carpeta de información básica para la atención solidaria y feminista a mujeres violadas. [Basic information file for mutually supportive feminist care for women rape victims.] Mexico City, Centro de Apoyo a Mujeres Violadas, 1985.
10. ^ Holmes, MM; Resnick, HS; Kilpatrick, DG; Best, CL (1996). "Rape-related pregnancy: estimates and descriptive characteristics from a national sample of women". American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 175 (2): 320–4; discussion 324–5. PMID 8765248. 
11. ^ Jewkes, R; Vundule, C; Maforah, F; Jordaan, E (2001). "Relationship dynamics and adolescent pregnancy in South Africa". Social science & medicine (1982) 52 (5): 733–44. PMID 11218177. 
12. ^ Boyer, D.; Fine, D. (1992). "Sexual abuse as a factor in adolescent pregnancy". Family Planning Perspectives 24 (1): 4–19. JSTOR 2135718. PMID 1601126. 
13. ^ Roosa, M. W.; Tein, J. Y.; Reinholtz, C.; Angelini, P. J. (1997). "The relationship of childhood sexual abuse to teenage pregnancy". Journal of Marriage and the Family 59 (1): 119–130. JSTOR 353666. http://www.brynmawr.edu/socialwork/GSSW/Vartanian/Handouts/Teenpreg.pdf. 
14. ^ Stock, JL; Bell, MA; Boyer, DK; Connell, FA (1997). "Adolescent pregnancy and sexual risk taking among sexually abused girls". Family planning perspectives 29 (5): 200–3, 227. PMID 9323495. 
15. ^ Robert W. Dumond, "Ignominious Victims: Effective Treatment of Male Sexual Assault in Prison," August 15, 1995, p. 2; states that "evidence suggests that [male-male sexual assault in prison] may a staggering problem"). Quoted in Joanne Mariner; Human Rights Watch (Organization) (17 April 2001). No escape: male rape in U.S. prisons. Human Rights Watch. pp. 370–. ISBN 978-1-56432-258-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=QkFfYfEO5IgC&pg=PA370. Retrieved 1 October 2011. 
16. ^ Struckman-Johnson, C.; Struckman-Johnson, D. (2006). "A Comparison of Sexual Coercion Experiences Reported by Men and Women in Prison". Journal of Interpersonal Violence 21 (12): 1591–615. doi:10.1177/0886260506294240. PMID 17065656.  reports that "Greater percentages of men (70%) than women (29%) reported that their incident resulted in oral, vaginal, or anal sex. More men (54%) than women (28%) reported an incident that was classified as rape."
17. ^ Coxell A, King M, Mezey G, Gordon D (1999). "Lifetime Prevalence, characteristics, and associated problems of non-consensual sex in men". BMJ 318 (7187): 846–50. PMC 27803. PMID 10092264. http://www.bmj.com/content/318/7187/846.full. 
18. ^ "Male rape victims left to suffer in silence". abc.net.au. February 9, 2001. http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s244535.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-30. 
19. ^ Storr, Will (17 July 2011). "The rape of men". The Observer (Guardian.co.uk). http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jul/17/the-rape-of-men. Retrieved 17 July 2011. "Sexual violence is one of the most horrific weapons of war, an instrument of terror used against women. Yet huge numbers of men are also victims." 
20. ^ "IT'S TEN O'CLOCK: DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR SPERM ARE?". Support Guidlines. 1999. http://www.supportguidelines.com/articles/art199903.html. Retrieved 2011-01-12. 
21. ^ Philip M. Sarrel; William H. Masters (1982). "Sexual molestation of men by women". Archives of Sexual Behavior 11 (2): 82–88. doi:10.1007/BF01541979. 
22. ^ "Male Rape". The National Center for Victims of Crime. 1997. http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/main.aspx?dbName=DocumentViewer&DocumentID=32361#3. Retrieved 2006-03-12. 
23. ^ Barbara Krahé; Renate Scheinberger-Olwig, Steffen Bieneck (2003). "Men's Reports of Nonconsensual Sexual Interactions with Women: Prevalence and Impact". Archives of Sexual Behavior 32 (5): 165. doi:10.1023/A:1022456626538. 
24. ^ "Male Sexual Victimization Myths & Facts". malesurvivor.org. http://www.malesurvivor.org/myths.html. Retrieved 2008-08-03. 
25. ^ Rape – Overview; Act and Mental State, Wayne R. LaFave Professor of Law, University of Illinois, "Substantive Criminal Law" 752-756 (3d ed. 2000)
26. ^ see for example, Michigan Statutes for the first degree felony, section 520b, "(1) A person is guilty of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree if he or she engages in sexual penetration of another person.", or in the UK, Section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 "1. A person (A) commits an offence if – (a) he intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of another person..." – although in this case women are still not capable of committing rape.
27. ^ "Female Sex Offenders". Breaking the Silence. 1998. http://www.vaonline.org/vls6.html. Retrieved 2007-03-11. 
28. ^ Renzetti, Claire M. Violent Betrayal: Partner Abuse in Lesbian Relationships. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1992, ISBN 0803938888.
29. ^ Ristock, Janice. No More Secrets: Violence in Lesbian Relationships. New York: Routledge, 2002, ISBN 0415929466.
30. ^ Girshick, Lori B. Woman-to-Woman Sexual Violence: Does She Call It Rape? (The Northeastern Series on Gender, Crime, and the Law). Boston: Northeastern University Press, 2000, ISBN 1555535275.