Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse: Becoming Gender-Sensitive and Trauma-Informed

Jennifer Elkins,Harold E Briggs,Katherine Crawford

doi:10.18060/21301

Abstract

While there is a wide body of literature examining the behavioral, emotional, and social consequences associated with being sexually abused, comparatively few studies have focused on males. Sexual abuse victimization among males remains largely under-reported, under-treated, and under-recognized by researchers, practitioners, and the public. Researchers trying to clarify why sexual abuse in males has been overlooked point to prevailing cultural norms, myths, assumptions, stigma, and biases about masculinity. Consequently, there is often an assumption that males are not negatively affected by sexual abuse. Drawing extensively from the literature, this article provides a critical review of: (1) the nature, experience and impact of sexual abuse victimization for males; and (2) the multidimensional processes that promote and inhibit resilient outcomes. It concludes with a discussion of trauma-informed and gender-responsive recommendations and future directions for social work practice, policy, and research.

Highlights

While there is a wide body of literature examining the behavioral, emotional, and social consequences associated with being sexually abused, comparatively few studies have focused on males
Over the past 20 years a growing body of literature has documented the enduring behavioral, emotional, and social consequences associated with being sexually abused. Despite this increased attention to sexual abuse, males are significantly less likely to disclose sexual abuse victimization, less likely to seek help, less likely to be suspected of being a victim, less likely to be believed upon disclosure, more likely to be blamed, and more likely to be perceived negatively when they do disclose sexual abuse than their female counterparts (Banyard, Williams, & Siegal, 2004; Holmes & Slap, 1999; O’Leary & Barber, 2008; Paul & Paul, 2016; Speigel, 2003)
Researchers trying to clarify why sexual abuse in males has been overlooked have pointed to prevailing cultural norms, myths, assumptions, stigma and biases about victimization of males in general and sexual abuse of males in particular

Summary

Multidimensional Risk and Protective Factors

Timing (e.g., onset, frequency, duration) is an important source of variability in outcomes (Manly, 2005). Several studies have found that male survivors are more likely to have extrafamilial perpetrators (Banyard et al, 2004; Feiring, Taska, & Lewis, 1999), and female perpetrators (Briere & Elliott, 2003; Dube et al, 2005; Newcomb, Munoz, & Carmona, 2009). Our knowledge in this area is complicated by the underrepresentation of female perpetrators in the literature (McLeod, 2015) and the underreporting of female-perpetrated sexual abuse. Regardless of the gender of the perpetrator, males experience a unique double stigma that impacts self-definition and self-disclosure of the abuse: with male perpetrators they often face misconceptions, stereotypes and assumptions regarding their sexual orientation; whereas femaleperpetrated sexual abuse is often regarded as benign, normative, or a rite of passage that is something to be bragged about

Intrapsychic Factors

Findings

Future Directions and Recommendations