Can boys and men also be the victims of gender-based violence?
Yes. Traditional gender norms also fuel much violence that is experienced by men. This type of violence should also be recognized as a form of gender-based violence. According to WHO, “Rape and other forms of sexual coercion directed against men and boys take place in a variety of settings, including in the home, the workplace, schools, on the streets, in the military and during war, as well as in prisons and police custody” (Betron et al., 2006, p. 23). GBV against men tends particularly to occur in situations where men do not live up to “masculine” standards. For example, men who have sex with men who are outwardly open about their homosexuality have suffered violence and social ostracism. In Kenya, nearly 40 percent of men who have sex with men reported having been raped outside their home and 13 percent report having been assaulted by the police (Barker and Ricardo, 2005).
Related Questions
- Current statistics suggests that 1 out 4 African-American Men and Boys are in some way imperiled in our society i.e. incarcerated, high school drop outs, experiencing early death etc.?
- What are the main obstacles that gender-based violence victims face in Argentina?
- How can we get men involved in the movement to end violence against women?
