CARE provides confidential services, support, advocacy, and related referrals to all survivors of interpersonal violence at UCSB, including students, staff, faculty, alumni, and connected community members. This includes male, masculine-identifying, mas-presenting, and transgender men.
CARE understands that violence can happen to anyone regardless of their gender identity and/or expression, or the gender of the person responsible for the violence. CARE wants you to know that services are here for you to help assist you with whatever needs may arise.
Barriers to Seeking Services
A myth in our society is that men cannot be victims of interpersonal violence, including sexual violence, relationship violence, and stalking/ harassment. This misconception can contribute to increased emotional pain, guilt or shame surrounding men's experiences of interpersonal violence, and leaves many men feeling very alone and not able to seek support. CARE wants all men who are survivors to know that you do not need to feel alone. We are here to support you in whatever ways are best for you.
Some men may feel confused after being sexually assaulted if they became sexually aroused, had an erection, experienced an orgasm, or ejaculated during the assault. A survivor may feel confused about whether it was rape, or whether those physiological reactions proved consent. But a person's normal, involuntary, physiological reactions do not mean that they wanted to be raped or sexually assaulted or that they enjoyed this traumatic event. The sexual arousal of any survivor during an assault does not mean that consent was given.
Sexual Identity and Survivorship
Men who are assaulted by men, can develop confusion or questions about their own sexuality after their assault. CARE wants to remind survivors that your sexual assault has nothing to do with your sexual orientation-- past, present, or future. But if your assault has brought questions about your sexual identity, we are here to listen and assist you in this self-discovery as well.
For gay/bi/queer/pansexual/trans men, sexual assault can lead to feelings of self-blame and self-loathing attached to their sexuality. Being sexually assaulted may lead a gay/bi/queer/pansexual/trans man to believe he somehow "deserved it," that he was "paying the price" for his sexual orientation. It's important to remember that sexual assault is an act of violence, power, and control. No one deserves to be sexually assaulted, ever.
CARE's Partnership with the RCSGD
CARE works closely with the Resource Gender for Sexual and Gender Diversity (RCSGD) and participates in continuing education to continuously improve our services and be as identity-affirming and supportive as we can be. CARE understands that experiences of interpersonal violence can feel isolating or lead to feeling unsafe, particularly when the survivor and perpetrator of the violence are both in the same community, social circle, or student organizations. CARE is here to help survivors navigate these circumstances as well.
RCSGD Confidential Resource
The Resource Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity (RCSGD) has a Confidential Resource Specialist for Title IX, an additional confidential resource available to all UCSB students, faculty, staff, and people. We welcome and support survivors of all identities, backgrounds, and experiences, including LGBTQIA+ survivors, people of all genders, and those from underrepresented communities. The Confidential Resource Specialist is able to provide support to anyone who has experienced any form of sexual violence, relationship violence, and stalking/harassment. They are not classified as a Responsible Employee under the UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy, which means survivors and loved ones can share their experiences without triggering a formal report. In a private, survivor-centered space, you can learn about your rights and options, explore next steps at your own pace, and be connected to campus and community resources. To schedule an appointment, email rcsgdT9@sa.ucsb.edu.
The Confidential Resource Specialist for Title IX can:
- Provide a safe, supportive, and confidential space for all UCSB student, staff, faculty, and people who have experienced any form of sexual violence, sexual harassment, relationship violence, or stalking and who wish to learn more about their rights, options, and available resources
- Facilitate a direct connection to a CARE advocate; Offer a connection to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) or a campus/community resource for emotional or mental health support
- Assist with understanding the University’s SVSH Policy and response frameworks
- Refer to campus offices that may be able to address any additional concerns and/or offer support
The Confidential Resource Specialist for Title IX cannot:
- Act as a witness, advisor, or support person in any investigation or hearing
- Advise a Complainant on how best to respond to an investigation
- Advise a Complainant on how best to respond to an investigation (Complainant: A person alleged, in a report to the TIX/DHP Officer, to have experience Prohibited Conduct)
- Provide legal advice
- Accompany a Complainant to any meetings or court appearances
Students and employees can schedule a meeting by emailing directly at rcsgdT9@sa.ucsb.edu.
Confidentiality
All faculty and staff, who are not confidential, are required to report all students' disclosures of sexual violence, relationship violence, and/or stalking to the Title IX Compliance and Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Office (”TIX/DHP Office”) to ensure consistent student services and TIX/DHP policy compliance. A CARE advocate can discuss any student's concerns one-on-one, without sharing the student's name, identifying information, or any other details about their visit with CARE to other campus offices – your professors, coaches, RA, or peers will not be notified that you have visited CARE, unless you explicitly request CARE's assistance in working with them.
Campus Resources
Community & National Resources
CARE recognizes…
CARE recognizes that each individual may hold many of the different identities that our Communities we CARE for pages address. For more information on another identity, please go back to Communities we CARE for.
We support survivors from all backgrounds, the survivors that we serve are not limited to the identities listed on our Communities we CARE for page. If you do not see your identity listed, and would like to learn how interpersonal violence impacts you, please call our 24/7 confidential phone number at 805-893-4613 or make an appointment online to be connected with a confidential advocate.
Making an Appointment
with a CARE Advocate
Schedule a non-urgent appointment with a CARE Advocate.
For urgent and immediate assistance and to speak with a confidential staff member, please call our 24/7 CARE phone line at 805-893-4613. If you have an emergency or feel that you may be in immediate danger, please call 911.
If you have experienced a sexual assault within the last five days, call CARE at 805-893-4613 or navigate to the Medical section on our Advocacy Services page on our Survivor Services page to learn about the time-sensitive option to seek a free, confidential forensic medical exam.