Topic outline

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  Effects of sexual abuse on men

  As a victim, I can tell you the memories, sense of guilt, shame and anger live with you every day. It destroys your faith in people, your will to achieve, to love, and one’s ability to cope with normal everyday living.
  'William Peter', Private Sessions, p. 8 of The Royal Commission Final Report, Vol 3: Impacts

  Module overview
  

  This module provides an overview of research and practice evidence of the effects of child sexual abuse on men's lives. Whilst the effects of childhood sexual abuse can be profound and extensive, there is no prescribed way that men experience and respond to sexual abuse. Effects of sexual abuse can vary in intensity and impact. They can be episodic and appear throughout the life course, with some 'sleeper effects' appearing at critical life stages, as an individual engages in work, relationships, parenting or their independence and health becomes compromised. Effects of sexual abuse are rarely single and discrete, often producing a cluster of difficulties. Men who have been sexually abused report 'complex trauma', struggling to deal with overwhelming memories and emotions, to establish a sense of self, of personal and relational integrity, separate from the traumatic experience and its ongoing impacts.

  In this module, gender specific impacts on men are included in a way that does not seek to amplify these, but acknowledges that there are both similarities and differences in the way that males and females experience and respond to sexual abuse. In providing this overview of common effects, details are provided of coping strategies adopted by men and their long term usefulness. Care is taken not to produce a totalising account of 'damage and pathology' that does not acknowledge the agency, skills and knowledge of those who have been sexually abused. More recently, research into 'traumatic growth' has highlighted how men and women impacted by sexual abuse report a greater appreciation and valuing of life, closer, more intimate relationships, increased personal resilience and commitment to raising awareness, improving services and preventing further abuse.

  Overview of module sections

  • Common effects
  • Some differences in male experiences and responses to child sexual abuse
  • Effects of the abuse by clergy and faith based personnel
  • The heterogeneity of men's experiences, coping, and traumatic growth
  • References and resources

  • Common Effects Page

    This section describes some common effects in men who experienced sexual abuse in childhood.

  • Some differences in male experiences and responses to child sexual abuse Page

    Whilst there are many similarities in women's and men's reported experiences, impacts and responses to childhood sexual abuse, research and practice evidence is beginning to identify some particular differences. In detailing some of these gendered differences, it is recognised that there is considerable diversity of experience amongst men and amongst women and that in many respects the similarities amongst those who have survived sexual abuse outweigh the differences (sometimes it is more a matter of degree, the particular clustering of effects, interpretation and meaning, than unique difficulties).
    

  • Excerpts from "It happened to us: Men talk about child sexual abuse". Page
  • Questions for reflection - "It happened to us: Men talk about child sexual abuse" Assignment
  • Effects of abuse by clergy and faith based personnel Page

    This next section presents research evidence about a specific context for sexual abuse in which men are more likely to be victimised than females.
    

  • Questions for reflection Assignment
  • The heterogeneity of men's experiences, coping and traumatic growth Page

    As has been discussed, there is no prescribed way that people are impacted by sexual abuse or assault. Every boy and girl, man and woman is different. Whilst we know that sexual abuse or sexual assault has profound and ongoing effects on people's lives, we also know that getting on, developing healthy supportive relationships and making a positive contribution is possible.
    

  • Reflection questions Assignment
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  References and resources

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  Adults Surviving Child Abuse [ASCA]. (2014b). ASCA Fact Sheet for People who have Experienced Childhood Trauma (including abuse).

  Breckenridge, J., Cunningham, J., & Jennings, J. (2008). Cry for help: Client and worker experiences of disclosure and help seeking regarding child sexual abuse. Sydney: Australian Institute of Social Relations and The University of New South Wales.

  Bayliss, J. (1994). The Attitude Series: Against His Will [video]. Sydney: ABC.

  Cashmore, J., & Shackel, R. (2013). The long term effects of child sexual abuse. Child Family Community Australia Information Exchange, 11.

  Draucker, C. B. (2003). Unique outcomes of women and men who were abused. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 39 (1), 7–16.

  Etherington, K. (1995a). Adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Great Britain: Pitman Publishing.

  Etherington, K. (1995b). Adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 8 (3), 233–241.

  Fater, K. & Mullaney J.A. (2000), The lived experience of adult male survivors who allege childhood sexual abuse by clergy. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 21, 281-295.

  Finkelhor, D. (1982). Sexual abuse: A sociological perspective. Child Abuse and Neglect, 6 (1), 95–102.

  Flood, M. (2003). Fatherhood and fatherlessness. The Australia Institute Discussion Paper, 59). Canberra: The Australia Institute.

  Flood, M. (2004). Backlash: Angry men’s movements. In S. E. Rossi (Ed.), The battle and backlash rage on: Why feminism cannot be obsolete (pp. 261–278). Philadelphia, PA: Xlibris Press.

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  Getz, L. (2011). Male survivors of childhood sexual abuse: Looking through a gendered lens. Social Work Today, 11 (2), 20.

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  Glasser, M., Kolvin, I., Campbell, D., Glasser, A., Leitch, I., & Farrelly, S. (2001). Cycle of child sexual abuse: Links between being a victim and becoming a perpetrator. British Journal of Psychiatry, 179 (December), 482–494.

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  Kia-Keating, M., Grossman, F. K., Sorsoli, L., & Epstein, M. (2005). Containing and resisting masculinity: Narratives of renegotiation among resilient male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 6 (3), 169–185.

  Klaus, P. (2010). The impact of childhood sexual abuse on childbearing and breastfeeding: The role of maternity caregivers. Breastfeeding Medicine, 5(4), 141–145.

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  Respond SA. (2008). It’s not your fault: Men talk about living beyond the effects of abuse. South Australia: Respond SA.

  Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2015) Redress and Civil Litigation Report. Commonwealth of Australia

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