‘Forced-to-penetrate’ (FTP) cases involve a man being forced-to-penetrate with his penis, and without his consent, a woman’s vagina, anus, or mouth. These cases are so labelled because they are not recognised as rape under the current UK legal definitions, e.g. section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Instead, this type of sexual abuse is prosecuted under alternative offences. The experiences of male victims of female perpetrated sexual abuse are rarely discussed or researched, and this has particularly been the case for FTP cases.
This training will share findings from the first study undertaken in the UK on FTP cases. This study involved men sharing their FTP experiences in semi-structured interviews. The training will explore: the contexts within which this abuse occurs; the emotional/ psychological and physical impacts on male survivors; and the consequences of their experiences on men’s relationships and personal lives. We will also consider the support that male survivors access and their experiences of that support, as well as how they label and disclose their FTP experiences. The voices of male survivors will be centred throughout the session. Recommendations for practice will be shared. The training will be followed by a Q&A session.
About the Trainer
Dr Siobhan Weare is a Senior Lecturer in Law at Lancaster University Law School. She researches in the area of criminal law and criminal justice, and she has conducted the first research project in the UK on forced-to-penetrate cases, capturing the experiences of male survivors. She has been awarded funding from the British Academy to support this work. She co-led the JiCSAV (Justice in Covid-19 for Sexual Abuse and Violence) research project which identified the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on sexual offences cases within the criminal justice system, as well as exploring innovations in policy and practice of value for the duration of the pandemic and beyond. This research was funded by the ESRC-UKRI Covid-19 Rapid Response Fund. She is currently leading an ESRC funded research project examining jury decision making in cases of rape and sexual abuse involving male victims.
Siobhan’s research has been published in leading international journals and has also received extensive media coverage, including on the BBC, Channel 4 News, and LBC Radio. Her research has influenced both policy and practice related to supporting male survivors of sexual violence. Further information and Siobhan’s publications.
