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AIBU?

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Original poster

Sensitive - Do people believe that male rape is worse than if a woman is raped?

186 replies

Spookyseason13 · 23/10/2025 17:34

There was a soap on last night and it featured a man being raped. It was quite graphic and obviously a horrific thing to happen to anyone in real life.

It’s being discussed a lot by the shows fans online. From the comments I’ve read, a lot have either said that they couldn’t watch it as it was too upsetting, or saying how the storyline was too much, or just generally saying how awful it was.

I’m interested to know if people feel that somehow a man being raped is worse than a woman being raped.

The reason I ask is because sure I feel that sexual violence against women is fairly normalised and commonplace entertainment on TV and doesn’t seem to attract the same level of shock and horror. Often the woman is even blamed for putting herself into a dangerous situation.

OP posts:

lnks · 23/10/2025 17:42

Haz3lW00d · 23/10/2025 17:40

Trust me it isn’t. My son was raped and it’s nigh on impossible accessing any support at all. Men get even less support than women and the bar is low.

Show quote history

I'm really sorry that happened to your son. The lack of support for rape victims is shocking. I was raped years ago and there was little support. I was even told I shouldn't have therapy before the trial.

Jellybunny56 · 23/10/2025 17:42

I don’t think it’s that male rape is worse, it’s just less commonly shown in TV etc so when it is shown it has a much higher shock impact.

EmeraldRoulette · 23/10/2025 17:42

In terms of real life responses, yes, I think men are much more horrified by rape of a male when it's on film or TV. I've honestly never heard them talk about incidences of male rapists in real life.

In fact, I don't think they are concerned about fictional portrayal of the rape of women at all. And I'm not sure how bothered some of them are about it in real life.

I don't think it's just about reluctance to discuss these things (which I find totally understandable and it's not a subject I would ever raise).

Yesterdayschippaper · 23/10/2025 17:40

I am a woman and I was l drugged raped l and attacked by a man 13 years ago
My DH was raped by a man 20 years ago
Both shocking and sickening and we will never get over it.
Neither is worse , however I blame myself for mine always have done. It's still affecting me to this day.

Haz3lW00d · 23/10/2025 17:40

lnks · 23/10/2025 17:36

anything that happens to a man is viewed more seriously than if it had happened to a woman

Trust me it isn’t. My son was raped and it’s nigh on impossible accessing any support at all. Men get even less support than women and the bar is low.

NoSoupForU · 23/10/2025 17:39

No. Rape is abhorrent whoever the victim is. I think male on male rape has more of a shock value and is consequently quite hard hitting because it is less common than male on female rape. There are also less assumptions involved around whether or not it was rape, the victim has lied, the victim has behaved or dressed provocatively etc.

lnks · 23/10/2025 17:38

Netcurtainnelly · 23/10/2025 17:35

What a grim topic Op. Can't you tell us a joke instead.

This kind of proves your point, OP.

Original poster

Spookyseason13 · 23/10/2025 17:37

Well it is grim but rape is something that happens to people. Sexual violence against women is very real.

You don’t have to read or reply to the post if you don’t want to.