While sexual violence against women is widely recognized in public discourse, awareness of male survivors remains limited. Although women are disproportionately affected, men still represent a substantial portion of victims and are often less likely to report their experiences. Understanding why underreporting happens is essential to improving support systems and visibility for all survivors.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 4 men in the U.S. experience contact sexual violence in their lifetime, including rape, sexual coercion, unwanted sexual contact or being made to penetrate someone else. Despite these figures, advocates say support services for men remain significantly less visible.
At Villanova University, Ryan Rost, the Title IX coordinator, points to cultural expectations around masculinity as a key factor causing underreporting. Norms that men should be strong, not victims and are “less of a man” if they are victims can discourage disclosure.
“I think one way that we try to overcome those narratives is simply sharing information and data that we do have individuals at Villanova and beyond who are male-identifying and have experienced sexual violence,” Rost said.
Even when men do disclose, they may encounter disbelief or victim-blaming. Some survivors are told they must have “wanted it,” particularly if they experienced physical arousal and did not resist. Advocates emphasize that trauma responses like freezing or compliance are common and never imply consent.
As Rost emphasizes, stigma and shame can depend on the gender of the perpetrator. Some male survivors fear being judged for their sexuality if their perpetrator was male, while others face dismissal when the perpetrator is female. Misconceptions that women cannot assault men continue to influence public perception.
“When there’s an experience of harm where the perpetrator is a woman, people might say, ‘Well, you can’t actually be assaulted by a woman,’ and that’s not factual at all,” Rost said.
Such attitudes reflect what advocates describe as the “ideal victim” narrative that permeates public conversations around sexual violence. It emphasizes women as victims of sexual violence and men as the sole perpetrators, suggesting the opposite is rare.
Research, however, shows that male victimization does not always fit these expectations. Data from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) indicates that the majority of men who were made to penetrate, were coerced and more reported only female perpetrators. These findings challenge common stereotypes about how sexual violence is understood.
Victimization can have devastating consequences for male survivors, including PTSD, depression, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse and difficulty with work or school. The psychological impact is often intensified when survivors feel isolated or cannot get help.
Despite these challenges, many men still disclose their experiences in various ways. According to Villanova University climate data shared by Rost, men who report are likely to tell friends or roommates. Though some also feel more comfortable disclosing to counselors or University officials.
“It seems that men may feel safer, or more comfortable, at least these men, coming to a counselor or a University official, as opposed to telling a friend,” Rost said.
However, experts note that many survivors never report at all. According to Rost, the top four reasons why men in the same survey told no one about their experiences were, one, they were ashamed and embarassed, two, they didn’t think others would think it was serious, three, they didn’t think others would think it was important and, four, they didn’t think what happened was serious enough to talk about.
Institutional support exists, but awareness remains limited. Villanova University’s support services include the Sexual Assault Resource Coordinator team, the Counseling Center and the Title IX Office. These resources provide advocacy, counseling and crisis support.
Off-campus resources, such as the Delaware County Victim Assistance Center and Domestic Abuse Project, offer counseling, advocacy, accompaniment and assistance with legal processes. These organizations provide confidential support to students outside of the University’s campus.
Advocates emphasize that improving outcomes for male survivors requires increasing access to services for male survivors and challenging cultural narratives that discourage disclosure. Increasing awareness, normalizing conversations about male victimization and ensuring supportive responses are key steps towards creating change.
Ultimately, experts stress that sexual violence prevention and response must include all survivors, regardless of gender. Greater awareness can help reduce stigma and ensure that all survivors receive the help and support they need.
People interested can find resources on the websites of the respective organizations or on Instagram @itsonusnova, @delcovictimassistance and @dapdelco. People should also mark their calendars for Villanova’s Solidarity Walk on April 28, where the community will walk around campus to raise awareness of survivors from various identities.
