MALE-ON-MALE RAPE CULTURE AND MALE SURVIVOR EXPERIENCES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MULTICULTURAL WOMEN’S AND GENDER STUDIES COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES BY LINDSEY BARTGIS, B.S., M.A. DENTON, TEXAS AUGUST 2019 Copyright Ó 2019 By Lindsey Bartgis DEDICATION For all sexual violence survivors. I believe you and wish you peace. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I could never write enough to accurately describe my debt and gratitude to my family, friends, colleagues, and professors. What follows is a small token of thankfulness representing the immense amount I feel. I am grateful for the support and guidance of Dr. Mark Kessler. He is patient, intelligent, and thoughtful. I am lucky to have him as an advisor. My Texas Woman’s University (TWU) multicultural women’s and gender studies colleagues provided me with encouragement, intellectual challenges, and lots of fun. Thank you Sheila Bustillos, Jenn Martin-Emami, Molly Diamond, Edyka Chilomé, April Michaels, Sara Ishii, Amelia Garza, Kimberly Merenda (Compass Cohort), Carla Wilson, Lindsay Robertson, Lauren Cross, Jessica Camp, Audrey Lundahl, Marcella Clinard, Michelle Slaughter, and Diana Álvarez. Special thanks to my cohort: Jessica Sadr (Compass Cohort), Reanae McNeal, Sam Schmitt, and Jennifer Roland. The faculty members at TWU were instrumental in my growth as a person and academic over the past seven years. Dr. Claire Sahlin, Dr. Danielle Phillips-Cunningham, Dr. Agatha Beins, Dr. Christa Downer, Jillian Morales, and Gail Orlando: your classes, conversations, and administrative help were vital to my success; thank you. Dr. Linda Rubin, your presence and feedback on my dissertation has been helpful and I appreciate all of your work. Dr. AnaLouise Keating, your teaching and books influenced my outlook on the world. I often think, “What would Dr. Keating say about this?” iii I am grateful to have amazing faculty mentors. Dr. Beth Venzke, working for you has been wonderful and fulfilling. Dr. Carol Mason (no exaggeration) changed my life. She introduced me to women’s and gender studies and advocated on my behalf many times. Repaying the favors and support would be impossible. Thank you for everything. To my friends who listened to me talk and stress about my dissertation endlessly: you were the ones who helped me survive. Thank you always Lindsay Katzir, Kendra Grimm, Eric Archer, Brandon Katzir, Kristen Becker, Eric Becker, Matt Huizinga, Rachel Jantke, Joe Maguire, Andrew Nielsen, Manish Mahawar, and Aaron Flesner. TJ’s family always asked about the project and cheered me on in my work. Thank you Tim Cox, Rosie Cox, Susan Cox, Will Rice, Mary Cox, Raymer Cox, Celena Cox, Ryan Sullivan, Tabitha Da Metz, Justin Da Metz, and Kira Cox. My parents were excited about my progress and encouraged me along the way. Thank you David Bartgis, Toni Blank, John Blank, and Brenda Bartgis. My sister, Traci Bartgis, is one of the best people in my life. Her support, humor, and reassurance mean the world to me and I am so proud to be her sister. My companion animals, Hugo the cat and Kinsey the dog, were vital to my writing process. Kinsey and I took many walks in Chicago to think through ideas. Hugo would protest by standing in front of my computer, forcing me to take breaks. I love them dearly. Finally, concerning my partner, TJ Cox, I could literally write another dissertation on his unwavering support and belief in me (but I won’t). To TJ: nothing makes me happier than our life together. This project was difficult and your optimism kept me going. I love you, infinity. iv ABSTRACT LINDSEY BARTGIS MALE RAPE CULTURE AND MALE SURVIVOR EXPERIENCES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AUGUST 2019 Adult male-on-male sexual assault has been studied minimally. Male rape survivors often face isolation, stigmatization of their perceived loss of masculinity, and questioning of their sexuality. Examining institutional reactions to male sexual assault cases, specifically in universities, hazing organizations, and the military, provides insight into the cultural perception of male sexual assault. This project also assesses fictional media, particularly Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The show’s portrayals of male- on-male sexual violence both reinforce and counteract male rape myths. Finally, semi- structured interviews with three male rape survivors are used to observe the relationship between these individuals’ experiences and common male rape myths. When institutions or the media accept male rape myths, it can have an effect on male sexual assault survivors. The stigma and shame survivors may feel develops from societies’ views of the victims. If the culture represents male sexual assault experiences as shameful or refuses to take male rape seriously, male rape survivors may internalize those feelings. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION ......................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .....................................................................................iii ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................. v I. MALE-ON-MALE SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND WHY IT MATTERS .............. 1 Studying Male Sexual Assault and Women’s and Gender Studies ........... 6 Outline of the Current Project .................................................................. 8 Methodology ........................................................................................... 9 Data Collection Method ................................................................... 11 Data Analysis Method ..................................................................... 14 Literature Review .................................................................................. 16 Rape Myths ..................................................................................... 16 Rape Myth Acceptance .................................................................... 19 Perceptions of Sexual Assault Victims ............................................. 23 Sexual Assault and the Media .......................................................... 27 Male Sexual Assault Experiences .................................................... 35 Conclusion ............................................................................................ 40 II. INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES TO MALE-ON-MALE SEXUAL ASSAULT ........................................................................................................ 43 “Several occurrences”: OSU FarmHouse Fraternity Case ...................... 47 Male-on-Male Sexual Assault as Hazing in Ellis County, Texas ............ 56 Male Military Sexual Trauma ................................................................ 61 Institutions for Future Research ............................................................. 69 Conclusion ............................................................................................ 73 III. MALE RAPE MYTH PORTRAYALS IN SVU ................................................ 76 “The only thing worse than he-said, she said, is he-said, he-said”: SVU and Homophobia ................................................................................... 81 Episode: “Criminal Hatred” ............................................................. 83 Episode: “Gridiron Soldier” ............................................................. 90 Male Sexual Assault in the Prison System and SVU............................... 94 vi Prison and Pop Culture .................................................................... 97 Episode: “Rotten” ............................................................................ 99 Episode: “Fallacy” ......................................................................... 103 Conclusion .......................................................................................... 106 IV. MALE SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR EXPERIENCES: SHAME, SEXUALITY, AND COPING ........................................................................ 109 “We have to acknowledge that we are vulnerable; we’re not macho”: Shame, Responsibility, and Humiliation .............................................. 116 Responsibility................................................................................ 117 Humiliation ................................................................................... 121 Male Rape Survivors on Sexuality....................................................... 123 Promiscuity ................................................................................... 128 Substance Use, Therapy, and Relationship Support Systems: How Male Sexual Assault Survivors Cope ................................................... 132 Substance Use ............................................................................... 133 Therapy ......................................................................................... 136 Relationship Support Systems ....................................................... 138 Conclusion .......................................................................................... 142 V. WE NEED TO DO BETTER: WORKING TO CHANGE RAPE CULTURE ..................................................................................................... 145 Summary ............................................................................................. 145