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For girls who have suffered from sexual violence, the statistic is around 1 in 7 worldwide. That\u2019s so heartbreaking it\u2019s very hard to process. But let me invite you to stretch your heart even further and let your empathy also embrace the 1 in 11 boys that experience the same<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what is sexual violence against a child? <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAny deliberate, unwanted and non-essential act of a sexual nature, either completed or attempted, that is perpetrated against a child, including for exploitative purposes, and that results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, pain or psychological suffering.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In this article we\u2019ll focus on boys and cis-men, simply because male victims of sexual violence are usually neglected. One reason is that we often have a very simplistic idea that men are the perpetrators and girls and women are the victims. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s true that most sexual violence is committed by men, it\u2019s just that they also commit it against boys and other men. In some areas, like the Catholic Church or the Boy Scouts, the majority of victims are boys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, women are not just victims. More often than previously thought they also sexually abuse children and when they do, it\u2019s more often boys<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Although more girls and women are affected, and their experiences are better documented, boys and men are also impacted, the data show. An estimated 240 to 310 million boys and men \u2013 or around 1 in 11 \u2013 have experienced rape or sexual assault during childhood.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n One in 11 means that there\u2019s likely a man in your extended family, among your friends and at work who has experienced sexual assault<\/strong>. <\/em>So why have you most likely not heard about it from any of them? The simple answer is shame. Among women there is much more solidarity and empathy, especially since the #metoo movement which encouraged women to publicly speak out against abusers. But for men the taboo seems to have remained largely intact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the prevalent (patriarchal) view of masculinity, men are supposed to be able to defend themselves, to be tough and in control, they are not supposed to be victims. If they are victims, then that must mean they\u2019re not “real men\u201c.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Men are less likely than women to report their experiences or even acknowledge to themselves that what was done to them was sexual violence. Male survivors of child sexual abuse delay disclosure for, on average, 20 years<\/a>.\u00a0 So why is that?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In one research project, numerous men reported thinking \u201cI am the only one\u201d and feared that \u201cno one would believe them\u201d if they disclosed. They were afraid of being misunderstood or that they would be told \u201eit\u2019s not a big deal\u201c and they should \u201eget over it\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One man expressed: \u201cBeing abused assumes you were somehow weak and allowed the abuse to happen . . . \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For many men, expressing intense emotion is perceived as a violation of masculine norms. Men anticipated that the disclosure process would elicit strong emotions (e.g., sadness, humiliation) or reactions (e.g., crying) that they would be unable to control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many also felt that sexual abuse of children is \u201ctoo sad and disgusting; people don\u2019t want to hear about it\u201d or thought \u201cI couldn\u2019t tell my parents because it would break their hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nBarriers to Disclosure<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n