Sexual Trauma in Men/Boys

Men and Sexual Trauma

At least 10% of men in our country suffer from trauma as a
result of sexual assault.
Men who experienced sexual assault may suffer
from depression, PTSD, and other emotional problems as a result.
The Emotional symptoms following trauma for a man and woman
can look different but the deep seeded shame and pain is the same.

WAYS BOYS/MEN ARE TARGETED

-Boys are more likely to be sexually abused by strangers
authority figures in organizations such as schools, the church,
or athletics programs.
-Predetators who sexually assault males usually choose young men and
male adolescents teens.
-Young males are usually assaulted in isolated areas where help is
not readily available.
-A Teenage hitchhiker on a remote road can be easily victimized.
Most perpetrators of males are men and sadly to say that is also true
for the female victims.

POPULAR BELIEFS

It is a popular belief that only gay men would sexually assault men or
boys, Oddly enough that is just not true. Male perpetrators are usually
identify as heterosexuals and often have consensual sexual relationships
with women.
When the assailant is a woman, the impact of sexual assault upon men
may be downplayed by professionals and the public. The traditional
gender role for men in our society dictates that males should be
strong, self-reliant, and in control.
Our society often does not recognize that men and boys can also be
victims especially from women. Boys and men may be taught that being
victimized implies that they are weak and, thus, not a man.
Because of these various gender-related issues, men are more likely
than women to feel ashamed of the assault, to not talk about it,
and to not seek help from professionals.

-Men and boys who have been sexually assaulted are more likely to suffer
from PTSD, other anxiety disorders, and depression than those who have
never been abused sexually.

-Men who have been sexually assaulted have a high incidence of alcohol
and drug use.

-Another study revealed that a percentage of boys who suffer from
encopresis (bowel incontinence) had been sexually abused.

-Exposure to sexual trauma can lead to risk-taking behavior during
adolescence, such as running away and other delinquent behaviors.

-Having been sexually assaulted also makes boys more likely to engage
in behaviors that put them at risk for contracting HIV
(such as having sex without using condoms).

Parents often know very little about male sexual assault and may harm
their male children who are sexually abused by downplaying
or denying the experience. Because of ignorance and myths about sexual
abuse, men sometimes fear that the sexual assault by another man
will cause them to become gay.
This belief is false. Sexual assault does not cause someone to have a
particular sexual orientation.

Are sexually assaulted boys more likely to become
child molesters?
It is important to know that most male victims of child sexual abuse do not
become sex offenders. Furthermore, many male perpetrators do not have
a history of child sexual abuse.
Rather, sexual offenders more often grew up in families where they suffered
from several other forms of abuse, such as physical and emotional.