Sexual Assault: A Comparative Analysis of Male and Female Experiences

This essay delves into the critical differences between male and female experiences of sexual assault, highlighting the disparities in victimization and the psychological impacts involved. The introduction establishes sexual assault as a significant public health concern, noting the rising awareness of male victims while acknowledging that females remain disproportionately affected. The discussion section examines various contributing factors, including age, marital status, location, and intoxication, and how these elements manifest differently across genders. It explores the vulnerability of female college students, the role of racism in male victimization, and the impact of relationships and acquaintances as per Routine Activities Theory. The conclusion emphasizes the need for further research into the psychological understanding of these differences and the importance of control measures. The essay references studies on sexual revictimization, problematic alcohol use, fraternity membership, and evolutionary hypotheses of violence against women to support its analysis.

Running Head: SEXUAL ASSAULT- DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE
Sexual Assault- Difference between Male and Female
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:
Table of Contents

1SEXUAL ASSAULT- DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Discussion..................................................................................................................................2
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................3
References..................................................................................................................................4

2SEXUAL ASSAULT- DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE
Introduction
Sexual assault or sexual violence is one of the concerns of health in the public sphere,
and the majority cases is that of the women victimization; there has been a steady rise in the
exposure and acknowledgment of the society in the case of male victims. Several studies
show that men go through the same psychological trauma and the phase of depression and
anxiety, which is experienced by women (Seabrook, Ward, & Giaccardi, 2018). However, the
stark difference in male and female victims is also proof of the predicament that females of
all ages are prone to sexual assault than men.
Discussion
There are several factors attached to the occurrence of these assaults and
circumstances which are associated with them consisting of age, marital status, location, level
of intoxication, and many others. Among them, the most vital is the age of the victim but has
been seen to be divided differently between genders (Culatta, et al., 2017). In the case of
college students, females are most likely to be raped due to the conviction of their virginity.
However, in the case of a male, it has been observed that the factor of racism is also involved.
The individual men who have been noted to experience sexual assault in their college days
are mostly non-whites, and those who are not physically equipped enough to defend
themselves.
The second most important factor is the intoxication and the location in which the
individual is prone to be assaulted. The intoxication factor, however, goes both ways, and
another contributing factor has been noticed that is the relationship or the acquaintance with
the victim or the guilty. The tendency for the young college students of both the gender to
engage in socializing and attending parties and clubs regularly is not new. It has been seen
with the help of Routine Activities Theory that in most cases, females are assaulted by
individuals they know and have friendly relations in their life such as that of a boyfriend or

3SEXUAL ASSAULT- DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE
an ex-boyfriend on whom they should be able to trust in normalcy (Dir, et al., 2018).
However, in the case of men, it is found that women who are elder and even of married status
but unsatisfied with marital consummation look for their victims in younger male
counterparts. In both cases, the victim is, most of the time, intoxicated and nit in a condition
to defend themselves.
One of the crucial difference which is observed in male and female victimization is
the change in the age and the approach of the perpetrator. In the case of women, it has also
been noticed that for them, the marital status of their victim shows a downward slope, but in
the case of a male, victimization tends to increase with the marital status of the female (Stone,
2017).
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can say that there are psychological influences and impacts
involved when it comes to committing and being victimized among gender. It opens the
avenues of further research in the area of psychological understanding, which can reveal the
reason behind this difference. The different factors affecting the victimization show the
gender stereotype, which has been stereotyped in the psyche as the working agent. The
research and practical implementation of the control measures are necessary agents in this
study.

4SEXUAL ASSAULT- DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE
References
Culatta, E., Clay-Warner, J., Boyle, K. M., & Oshri, A. (2017). Sexual revictimization: A
routine activity theory explanation. Journal of interpersonal violence,
0886260517704962.
Dir, A. L., Riley, E. N., Cyders, M. A., & Smith, G. T. (2018). Problematic alcohol use and
sexting as risk factors for sexual assault among college women. Journal of American
college health, 66(7), 553-560.
Seabrook, R. C., Ward, L. M., & Giaccardi, S. (2018). Why is fraternity membership
associated with sexual assault? Exploring the roles of conformity to masculine norms,
pressure to uphold masculinity, and objectification of women. Psychology of Men &
Masculinity, 19(1), 3.
Stone, E. A. (2017). A test of an evolutionary hypothesis of violence against women: the case
of sex ratio. Letters on Evolutionary Behavioral Science, 8(1), 1-3.