Gender Identity Construction and Sexual Orientation in Sexually Abused Males

Abstract

Male survivors of sexual abuse must struggle with confused emotions, including depression and anger. They react in a different way than females, however, in that the sexual abuse forces men to face issues of gender-role identity and sexual orientation. These are questions at the level of “Who am I?” and “What is the meaning of my life?” Such questions have always been very complex for men but are especially poignant for male survivors of sexual abuse. The authors use their clinical experience and study of gender identity to address the topic, which psychotherapists sometimes find difficult to make part of their work with men. The topic is addressed at four levels: the construction of male gender role identity, sexuality in a setting of hegemonic masculinity, sexual orientation, and psychotherapy with male survivors of sexual abuse.