Second Assault of Male Survivors of Sexual Violence

Contemporary researchers treat sexual violence as a two-phase phenomenon: first, the actual violation, then, the second assault experience in which social institutions revictimize the survivor. Research on the second assault phenomenon has focused primarily on women with little attention to male survivors. Failure to incorporate experiences of male survivors in analyses of the second assault phenomenon denies the legitimacy of their experiences and reinforces harmful gender role socialization. Six case studies contribute to the current knowledge base regarding the experiences of male survivors of sexual violence. Particular emphasis is placed on difficulties males encounter when they report to or seek help from various social institutions.