An investigation of the phenomenon of non-consensual sex among Maori men who have sex with men

Abstract

Instances of non-consensual sex (NCS) among men are highly under-reported. The research that has been conducted into this issue shows, however, that men who have sex with men experience higher rates of NCS than do other men and that these men are likely not to report that they have been subjected to NCS largely because there are no support systems in place for them. For a long time, there has been an expectation that while men might perpetrate acts of sexual violence against women, they cannot be the victims of such acts. These factors are compounded for Maori men who experience NCS. These men report that they suffer a range of long-term health effects and that they are unable to access culturally appropriate services to help overcome the effects of these negative health outcomes. At the same time, Maori men report that they have managed to find support within their cultural networks. Support services for Maori men who experience NCS need to be established and they need to incorporate appropriate cultural components into their processes and services.