Why Wouldn\u27t You Like It? : Exploring Masculine Identities in Discussions of Male Rape

Empirical research on the topic of male rape is scarce within the discipline of psychology. Current research focuses on negative perceptions of male rape victims, but does not take into account the role hegemonic masculinity plays in constructing beliefs about male rape. The present study aims to gather narratives of young men’s beliefs of male rape and male rape myths and analyze how masculinity and masculine identities shape these beliefs. Narratives were gained through collection of journal writings and focus groups, and an integrated narrative analysis was conducted to identify themes and discursive strategies that men employed to balance their own beliefs with larger societal masculine ideals. The reproduction of dominant masculine norms was prevalent; however, the relationship between consent and male rape myths allowed for disruption of masculine privilege. The research emphasizes a need to understand and deconstruct how men hold conflicting ideas about male rape and masculinity simultaneously, and the ways in which we as researchers and activists can disrupt these barriers to conversations