Letter to the Badgers on sexual assault against disabled males

By Peter Wright

Excerpt from the 3-part series, “A male-centered approach to disability.”

Disabled males are four times more likely than nondisabled men to be sexually assaulted or raped.[3] The researchers of that study found that more than 5 percent of disabled men reported experiencing sexual assault during the past year, about equal to sexual assaults against disabled women.[3]

Citation: [3] Mitra, Monika, Vera E. Mouradian, and Marci Diamond. Sexual Violence Victimization Against Men with Disabilities, American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2011) http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2811%2900515-0/abstract

If ‘rape culture’ is based in social invisibility and voicelessness of a victim group, then disabled men are dealing with a legitimate rape culture – one entrenched by the people who receive a weekly pay-cheque to help lift that silence. Again a Google search speaks volumes:

►“Sexual violence against disabled women” = 1520 results.
►“Sexual violence against disabled men” = 0 results.

Also

Re non-sexual violence experienced by disabled males:

The belief among support workers that disabled men are safe from violence has created an environment in which abused men are less likely to speak up and seek help… there is no encouragement to do otherwise. Despite the fact that U.S. Department of Justice has reported violent crimes against disabled men and women at roughly equal rates,[4] a Google search for information delivers the following disparity of awareness:

►“Violence against disabled women” = 4330 results.
►“Violence against disabled men” = 9 results.

[4] Harrell, E., Rand, M., Crime Against People with Disabilities, U.S. Department of Justice (2008) http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/capd08.pdf

More of Peter Wright’s work can be seen at avoiceformen.com and on his website, Gynocentrism.com