"Nearly Half of Young Men Report Being Victims of Sexual Coercion"

I thought readers might be interested in a new study published in The Psychology of Men and Masculinity entitled “Sexual Coercion Context and Psychosocial Correlates Among Diverse Males.” From the abstract:

Sexual coercion is a pervasive problem but rarely examined in men. This study examined sexual coercion and psychosocial correlates among 284 diverse adolescent and emerging adult males in high school and college. Over 4 in 10 participants (43%) experienced sexual coercion: more specifically, the participants reported: verbal coercion (31%,n =86), seduction coercion (26%, n=73), physical coercion (18% n =52), and substance coercion (7%, n =19). Rates were comparable across high school and college students. Racial differences were found such that Asian participants reported significantly lower rates of sexual coercion than Black, White, and Latino participants. Ninety-five percent of the respondents reported women as the perpetrators; participants also described internal obligation, seductive, and peerpressure tactics in descriptions of coercion experiences. Sexual coercion tactic (i.e., verbal, substance,seduction, physical) and resulting sexual activity (i.e., fondling/attempted intercourse, completed inter-course) were associated with psychosocial outcomes. Specifically, sexual coercion that resulted in sexual intercourse was associated with greater sexual risk-taking and alcohol use. Verbal and substance coercion were associated with psychological distress, and substance coercion was also associated with sexual risk-taking. Considerations for future research and practice implications are discussed.

In the Healthline news article on the topic, the headline reads: “Sexual Coercion: The Last Thing Men Will Talk About.” Is it any wonder no man will bring it up? People scoff, laugh and blame men for any sexual problems or assaults. Whatever happens, it is always his fault. If you want to see some nasty replies to men who are victims of rape or sexual coercion by a woman, just take a look at some of the nasty comments to this article of mine at PJM entitled, “Can a Man be Raped by a Woman?” This denial of sexual coercion against men needs to stop. Maybe articles like the one above can help educate the public.