The Gaps Between Female and Male Sexual Assaults and Rape Perpetrators

Many studies have been conducted on rape and sexual assault. However, no such studies have attempted to examine gender equity and equality in rape incidents since most previous studies have tended to focus mainly on the female gender as the victim of rape and sexual assault. The society has also been made to believe for long that all crimes of rape and sexual assault are perpetrated by men and that it is often only women who have to grapple with the effects of these crimes. However, the present study departs from this earlier notion and seeks to debunk the overrepresentation of the male gender as the only perpetrators of sexual assault and rape.

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One of the reasons cases of males being victims and females being perpetrators of sexual assault and rape are rare is that most of these cases are not often reported leading to a false impression that it is only men who perpetrate these crimes. According to a study by Tomaszewska and Krahe (2015), the number of male victims who self-reported sexual assault and rape against them was 28 percent while females who reported victimization represented 34 percent. This finding proves the author's point that it is the difference in reporting that account for the perceptions of sexual assault and rape perpetration and not necessarily the disparity in perpetration between the male and female gender. It is also true -as the author suggests -that reporting among men is also affected by social stigma due to homosexuality. Furthermore, it is true as the author suggests, that social stereotypes and myths about sexual assault and rape perpetration affect the societal perceptions and reporting of such incidents. Men are usually stereotyped as being more masculine and posses unique qualities such as physical strength that make them automatic potential perpetrators of sexual offenses.

However, the author fails to appreciate and recognize the fact that there are more recent studies that have found out that the male gender generally tends to have a high propensity to commit sexual assault and rape on the female gender. Social, racial, and ethnic stereotypes aside, the reality is that in most societies, men perpetrate most cases of sexual assault and rape on women and such behavior is somewhat culturally tolerated or celebrated. For instance, a recent study by Jewkes, Sikweyiya, Morrell, and Dunkle (2011) found that men committed more acts of sexual assault and rape than women because of sexual entitlement. According to these authors, unless the deep gender inequity and inequality that exists between men and women in times of victimization are addressed, the male gender will always be at the top of the chain in terms of sexual assault and rape perpetration. Also, gang membership, drug use, skewed gender relations, and a sense of entitlement explain the high rate of perpetration among men.

Conclusion

To surmise, it is true as the author argues, that men are also victims of sexual assault and rape contrary to what is portrayed in previous studies. However, research also indicates that certain unique factors make the male gender more likely to commit these crimes than the female gender.

References

Jewkes, R., Sikweyiya, Y., Morrell, R., & Dunkle, K. (2011). Gender inequitable masculinity and sexual entitlement in rape perpetration in South Africa: Findings of a cross-sectionalstudy. PLoS One, 6(12). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029590

Tomaszewska, P., & Krahe, B. (2015). Sexual aggression victimization and perpetration amongfemale and male university students in Poland. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 33(4), 571 - 594