Some victims of rape or other sexual violence incidents are male. Historically, rape was thought to be, and defined as, a crime committed solely against females. This belief is still held in some parts of the world, but rape of males is now commonly criminalized and has been subject to more discussion than in the past.
Males are far less likely to report sexual abuse than females. Rape of males is still considered a taboo subject in society and male victims tend to deny their victimization. Community and service providers often react differently to male victims based on their sexual orientation and the gender of their perpetrators.
