Male Rape, Masculinities, and Sexualities: Understanding, Policing, and Overcoming Male Sexual Victimisation (Palgrave Hate Studies)

Book info: Male Rape, Masculinities, and Sexualities: Understanding, Policing, and Overcoming Male Sexual Victimisation (Palgrave Hate Studies) (Hardcover, 308 pages) – Palgrave Macmillan, 2018. Language: English.

This book critically explores the intersections between male rape, masculinities, and sexualities. It examines the ways in which male rape is policed, responded to, and addressed by state and voluntary agencies in Britain. The book uncovers how notions of gender, sexualities and masculinities shape these agencies’ understanding of male rape and their views of men as victims of rape. Javaid pays particular attention to the police and deconstructs police subculture to consider whether it influences and shapes the ways in which police officers provide services for male rape victims. Grounded in qualitative interviews and data derived from the state and voluntary sector, this book will be invaluable reading for sociologists, criminologists, and social scientists who are keen to learn more about gender, policing, sexual violence and male sexual victimisation.

“The main pattern of sexual violence in our society is against women; but men’s bodies are vulnerable too, and rapes of men do happen. Javaid explores the issues around crimes that violate social understandings of masculinity, and are often denied or ignored. Particularly valuable is his evidence from professions that deal with raped men - police, social workers and therapists - illuminating questions about masculinities, sexual violence and the state.” (Emeritus Professor Raewyn Connell, University of Sydney, Australia)

“Male rape remains difficult to decipher analytically. Shrouded in secrecy and suffused with shame, we know little about its prevalence, severity, and effects. Javaid provides a taxonomy of different types of male rape, and anchors his broad discussion in our cultural understanding of masculinity. This book is a vital step towards understanding, which is, itself, a precursor to healing.” (Professor Michael Kimmel, Stony Brook University, USA)

“Silenced and stigmatised, male rape is seriously ignored and widely misunderstood. Javaid’s pioneering, provocative and passionate study deepens our understanding through research connecting rape to masculinity, heterosexism and homophobia. Debunking old prejudices, this is necessary and timely reading for anyone trying to make sense of this challenging issue.” (Emeritus Professor Ken Plummer, University of Essex, UK)