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Our statement on male identity

In our name and in our communications we use the words male, males, men and boys to refer to the survivors we are focused on supporting, but we acknowledge gender identity can be fluid for some individuals. For us, male as a definition can include cisgender (cis), transgender (trans), and non-binary identities, individuals and communities.

We set no standards for what it means to identify or describe oneself as male, either now or in the past, either publicly or privately. Our goal in naming ourselves the Males Survivors Partnership and talking about males is to promote male-inclusive services, support and understanding, so anyone who might benefit from our activities may do so.

This ambition is reflected in the terms of reference under which member organisations join our network. These terms say we do not accept, “partners, organisations or individuals who discriminate against survivors by virtue of their gender identity, sexual orientation or other identifying feature or who purport to provide services for those who identify as male yet fail to meet required standards”.

We hope this statement is helpful to victims and survivors and to those who work to support them. If you would like to tell us how you think we could improve it please email hello@malesurvivor.co.uk.

Working as allies

It is important to the Male Survivors Partnership and our member organisations that our work is consistent with the development of more and better services for women and girls affected by sexual violence, including trans women and girls. We have embedded this core value in our membership terms of reference, which commit us to work for male survivors that supports the women’s sector “to grow as well as, not instead of, the male sector“.

In practical terms this means we seek active collaboration with organisations and services supporting and representing female victims and survivors of sexual violence, for example by sharing information and perspectives on issues affecting the development of specialist support services and the needs of victims and survivors. We want to listen and learn from others’ experience and to develop solutions informed by evidence and mutual understanding on relations between gender, society and the harm of sexual violence.

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Male Survivors Partnership is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1191026, and a company limited by guarantee, company number 12215676.