Jewish Male Survivors Of Sexual Violence
(survivors of incest, sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment)
If you are in a minyan with 10 men. . .
Statistically at least 2 of them are survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Keeping that in mind, how many male survivors of sexual abuse are in the photo below?
About three percent of American men —- a total of 2.78 million men—have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. [Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women 1998.]
In 2002, one in every eight rape victims were male. [NCVS 2002]
Three percent of boys in grades five through eight and five percent of boys in grades nine through twelve said they had been sexually abused. [Commonwealth Fund Survey of the Health of Adolescent Boys, 1998.]
Of sexually abused children in grades five through twelve, 48% of the boys told no one about the abuse—not even a friend or sibling. [Commonwealth Fund Survey of the Health of Adolescent Girls, 1998.]
In one study, 98% of males who raped boys reported that they were heterosexual. [Sexual Abuse of Boys, Journal of the American Medical Association, December 2, 1998]
Disclaimer: Inclusion in this website does not constitute a recommendation
or endorsement. Individuals must decide for themselves if the resources meet
their own personal needs.
When Men Are
Victims - By Eric (1996)
The
Mikvah - Suggested Protocols to Protect Minors- by The Awareness Center,
Inc. (11/10/2006)
Victims No Longer - by Mike Lew
Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Bibliography
Next Step Counseling The Next Step Counseling and Training is located in Brookline, Massachusetts.MIke Lew offers individual therapy, couples counseling, group therapy and clinical supervision as well as experiential workshops, professional trainings and public lectures. A primary focus of the work at The Next Step is adult male recovery from the effects of sexual child abuse and other trauma
EFFECTIVE GROUP THERAPY WITH MALE SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE
Sexual Abuse Tied to Psychological Problems
in Men
Thu Sep 26, 2002 - 10:35 AM ET
SOURCE: British Journal of Psychiatry 2002;181:153-157.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Men who were sexually abused as boys or as adults often experience serious psychological consequences in later life, including an increased likelihood of trying to kill or harm themselves, a UK study suggests.
Researchers found that of nearly 2,500 men attending 18 medical practices, those with a history of sexual abuse were more likely than other men to report mental health, sexual or substance abuse problems. Among the 150 men who said they'd been sexually abused as children, 62% reported at least one such problem, as did 56% of the 69 men who said they'd been molested in adulthood--considered to be after age 16. Dr. Michael King of Royal Free and University College Medical School in London led the study. The findings appeared in a recent issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry. According to King's team, until recently there had been no data on how prevalent sexual abuse during adulthood is among European men, or on its psychological effects. In an earlier study, the researchers had found that nearly 3% of men in a sample of general practice patients reported being sexually molested as adults. The same was true of 18% of men seeking care at a clinic specializing in genital and urinary health. In the current study, King's team found that, like men who'd been sexually abused as children, those who reported unwanted sexual contact in adulthood had a higher-than-average risk of sexual problems, substance abuse and "self-harm." Abuse in adulthood was particularly tied to self-harm, as was so-called consensual sexual contact with someone at least 5 years older before the age of 16--the legal age of consent in the UK. Overall, childhood sex abuse showed the most widespread effect on long-term psychological health, with these men being twice as likely to report disorders like depression and anxiety and nearly four times as likely to have tried to kill or harm themselves. Men who reported abuse in adulthood were about 2.5 times more likely to attempt to harm themselves compared with those with no abuse history. The risk was 70% higher than average among men who reported consensual sex with an older person before age 16. "'Consensual' experiences in childhood and sexual molestation in adulthood are significant predictors of self-harm," according to King and his colleagues. When men attempt to harm themselves, the researchers note, this should alert doctors to the possibility of past sexual abuse.
Sexual molestation of males:
Associations with psychological disturbance.
British Journal of Psychiatry, 181, 153-157.
King, M., Coxell, A., & Mezey, G. (2002).
King et al. (2002) found that of nearly 2,500 men attending 18 medical practices, those with a history of sexual abuse (n = 150) were more likely than other men to report mental health, sexual or substance abuse problems. Overall, childhood sex abuse showed the most widespread effect on long-term psychological health, with these men being twice as likely to report disorders like depression and anxiety and nearly four times as likely to have tried to kill or harm themselves. This higher-than-average risk of sexual problems, substance abuse and "self-harm," was also found in the men reported that the experience with the older person had been "consensual." In fact, men who reported consensual sex with an older person before age 16 were more likely to attempt to harm themselves compared with those with no abuse history. They reported self-harm at a rate of that was 70% higher than average.
Newspaper Articles on Male
Survivors
Aftermath: Effect of sex abuse lingers, but many victims recover
By Michelle Quinn
Mercury News - June 23, 2005
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/11964394.htm
They may be withdrawn, unable to trust. Girls might turn to cutting themselves or eating disorders. Boys might drink, do drugs, act out.
The effects of child sexual abuse can go on for years. It's a legacy that compounds the horror of the alleged crimes of Dean Arthur Schwartzmiller, who San Jose police say may be one of the country's most active child sex offenders.
However, while children often face a series of challenges long after the abuse stops, many pull through, say child abuse experts. They have productive, well-adjusted lives, particularly if their families rally to their support and find help.
``I believe when a child is molested, it's like a little hunk of their soul is taken,'' says Jane Kirk, a San Jose therapist who works with adolescents and adults who have been sexually abused. ``It changes them. But they can rebuild and find strength.''
Gabriel Biser of San Jose is one of the survivors. Sexually abused by a family friend beginning at age 12, Biser kept the abuse secret because he was afraid no one would believe him. When he was 19, he reported the abuse to his family and police. He testified at the trial, and the offender is serving a 15-year sentence.
Three years later, Biser, 22, still struggles with trusting others. ``It's hard for me to completely open up to people,'' he says.
Children's reactions to sexual abuse varies, says Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, a research associate professor of psychology at University of New Hampshire and an expert on child sexual abuse. The extent of the damage to an abused child often depends on the child's age, what exactly happened, how long the abuse went on and whether the perpetrator was trusted. How a family reacts can help a child or cause more damage, she says.
Some children experience long-term physical symptoms such as chronic pain syndrome and headaches. Throughout their lives, these kids will be more vulnerable to depression, she says.
Girls and boys may react very differently, according to Kendall-Tackett. Girls may feel they are crazy or over-exposed, that everyone can see what has happened to them. Boys who have been abused by men may struggle with understanding their sexuality and worry that something about them led to a male molesting them. The victims of child sexual abuse tend to have earlier, consensual sexual experiences and more high-risk sex, as well.
While going to the police and experiencing a trial can be excruciating for a child, experts say the process can also help the child heal.
``It's a belief in ultimate justice,'' says Kendall-Tackett, who also works at the Crimes Against Children Research Center, a federally funded center based at the University of New Hampshire. ``Kids are able to say, `Hey, I was able to do something to make it better.' ''
Many who prey sexually on children have a history of being abused themselves, but most abuse victims do not grow up to be perpetrators, says Kendall-Tackett.
A San Jose mother of two boys says her children were 6 and 8 when they were abused by a 15-year-old male babysitter. Her sons have gone through a host of emotions: relief, guilt, anger, confusion and embarrassment.
When the parents found out, they sought help from the YWCA of Silicon Valley, which provided them with an advocate to go through medical exams and the legal process. The perpetrator pleaded guilty and served three months. The family went through individual and family counseling for more than four years.
For the most part, the children have healed, says the mother, who asked that her name not be published to protect her children. Now, both teenage boys are social, she says, and have girlfriends. Recently, the family ran into the perpetrator. ``The boys wanted to fight him,'' says the mother. ``They were still that angry.''
Biser, the San Jose man who was abused from age 12 to 19, says he suffered nightmares and flashbacks. His family split over his accusations, and some family members testified against him at the trial. Still, seeing his perpetrator hauled away in handcuffs gave him closure.
Now a community theater actor and an office worker, Biser volunteers as a rape crisis counselor and has contributed to a new book, ``Voices of Courage'' (Awareness Publications), a collection of essays by survivors of sexual assault. Each time he tells his story, he says, he feels he is getting a little bit stronger.
``I certainly don't want to be the same scared person I was four or five years ago,'' he said.
Contact Michelle Quinn or (408) 920-5749.
Boys, Too, Suffer Long-term Consequences Of Childhood
Sexual Abuse
By The Center for the Advancement of Health
Science Daily - May 19, 2005
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/05/050519082907.htm
Children of both genders are frequently victims of sexual abuse, and the long-term consequences are nearly identical in men and women, according to a broad-based new report in the June 2005 issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Among participants in the study of more than 17,000 California adults, 25 percent of females and 16 percent of males reported experiencing childhood sexual abuse. Moreover, say the authors, sexual abuse significantly increases the risk of developing health and social problems -- such as drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, and marital strife -- in both men and women.
A history of suicide attempt was more than twice as likely among both male and female victims as among nonvictims. Similarly, sexually abused adults of both genders faced a 40 percent greater risk of marrying an alcoholic.
Until now, most research on the effects of child sexual abuse has focused on female survivors, and little information was available on male victims. The new study shows that being male offers little protection. "All children are vulnerable to this form of abuse, and the burden is similar for both men and women later in life," says lead author Shanta Dube of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The findings are based on confidential questionnaires completed by more than 17,000 adult members of a health maintenance organization in California.
The respondents represent a fairly general population, says Dube, because each visited the clinic for a wellness assessment rather than for treatment of a health problem. In addition, statistical methods allowed the authors to isolate the effects of sexual abuse from those of other childhood stressors that may occur simultaneously, such as emotional or physical abuse.
The questionnaire asked participants if the sexual abuse involved intercourse or inappropriate touching only. The findings show that the risk of negative health outcomes was slightly higher for both genders if the abuse included attempted or completed intercourse.
The study also looked at the gender of perpetrators. Women reported that males committed the abuse 94 percent of the time. However, among men, abusers were divided more evenly between both genders with females accounting for up to 40 percent of the abuse.
Child sexual abuse had similar effects on males regardless of whether the perpetrator was a man or woman. "Thus, the vulnerability of boys to perpetration of [childhood sexual abuse] by both males and females deserves increased national attention," notes the study.
Kaiser Permanente Research: Gender and Sexual
Abuse
Female Perpetrators More Common Than Known Previously; Boys Abused Almost As Often As Girls
Kaiser Permenente - Wednesday July 6, 3:00 pm ET
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050706/sfw080.html?.v=15
SAN DIEGO, July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Working with Dr. Robert F. Anda at the Centers for Disease Control, Kaiser Permanente physician-researcher Dr. Vincent Felitti is author of a study out in the latest issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine showing that the genders of sexual abuse victims and perpetrators are less predictable than historically expected.
"Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) occurs on a worldwide basis and although most studies on the long-term consequences of CSA have focused on women, sexual abuse of both boys and girls is prevalent," said Vincent J Felitti, MD, of the Kaiser Permanente, San Diego Medical Center. "An interesting finding of the article is that a significant number of boys were molested by women." In 40% of the cases researched by Felitti and his colleagues at the CDC, childhood sexual abuse of male victims came at the hands of female perpetrators. By contrast, only 6% of female victims are molested by women. And the male victims of sexual abuse, whether at the hands of female or male perpetrators, suffered the same long-term consequences -- into adulthood -- as female victims.
"All of this is unfortunately well concealed by time, shame, secrecy, and a social taboo against discussing these matters that have such important long-term consequences for health and well-being," says Dr. Felitti.
Of 17,337 study participants, 16% of the men and 25% of the women reported being sexually abused as children. As Felitti et al have found in other studies, the victims of childhood sexual abuse were more likely to have attempted suicide, to suffer from depression, to abuse alcohol and drugs and to have problems within their marriages than non-victims.
This study is part of an ongoing research project with the CDC, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. Work resulting from the ACE study has already appeared in thirty-six medical publications including JAMA, Pediatrics, and other peer-reviewed journals. Participants in the study were enrolled as adults, surveyed about their experiences as children. The studies then looked at the incidence of adverse childhood experiences in participants' lives and resulting adverse events in adulthood, including alcohol and substance abuse, mental and physical illness, and family difficulties.
Kaiser Permanente has research offices in California, Oregon, Hawaii, Georgia, Colorado, Maryland, and Ohio. Results of research conducted by Kaiser Permanente physicians and investigators have been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the New England Journal of Medicine, the Permanente Journal, the American Journal of Public Health, Pediatrics, and other clinical journals.
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a not-for-profit, group practice prepayment program with headquarters in Oakland, California. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of 8.2 million members in 9 states and the District of Columbia. Today it encompasses the not-for-profit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Permanente Medical Groups.
Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 138,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 11,000 physicians representing all specialties.
One in Six Men Victims of Childhood Sex Abuse
By Randy Dotinga
Health Day - Thu May 19,11:48 PM ET
THURSDAY, May 19 (HealthDay News) -- One in six adult men reported being sexually molested as children, and -- in a surprise finding -- nearly 40 percent of the perpetrators were female, a new study found.
Women fared even worse, with one in four reporting childhood molestation, in almost all cases perpetrated by males.
Both male and female victims had higher rates of substance abuse, mental illness and troubled marriages.
The findings are contained in a study of more than 17,000 California residents that appears in the June issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
"Children of both genders are vulnerable to childhood sexual abuse," said study lead author Shanta Dube, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "And the long-term effects are similar, regardless of the gender of the victim."
Child molestation has been in the public eye since the 1970s. But much of the focus has been on female victims because awareness of the problem first sprang from the women's movement and rape-crisis centers, explained Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, a research associate professor of psychology at the University of New Hampshire who has studied child sex abuse.
Consequently, the treatment of the health effects of childhood abuse also focused on women. "I don't think they were trying to exclude men, it's just that so many of the patients were women," she said.
In the last few years, the Catholic Church abuse scandal has focused more attention on males who were molested as children. But studies of male sexual abuse have tended to focus on those men who have sought psychological help, Dube said.
In the new study, researchers examined the results of a survey of 17,337 San Diego-area members of the Kaiser Permanente Health Plan between 1995 and 1997.
Twenty-five percent of females reported being molested, as did 16 percent of males. Among female victims, males were responsible for the abuse 94 percent of the time. Among male victims, females made up 38 percent of perpetrators, according to the study.
The high percentage of female perpetrators is unusual in abuse research, Kendall-Tackett said. Other research has suggested higher numbers of male molesters of girls. "But maybe that's changing, maybe we're finding out more about it," she said.
The molestation victims were more than twice as likely to have tried to commit suicide as the other people surveyed. They were also 40 percent to 50 percent more likely to have marital problems.
Dube said the study results should boost awareness of sexual abuse of males and the role of female perpetrators. "The findings will definitely help increase the understanding that child sexual abuse is common," she said.
Kendall-Tackett added that the research could help doctors do a better job of questioning patients, especially men, whose adult response to childhood sexual abuse hasn't been well studied. "It's going to expand physicians' understanding in terms of knowing risk factors and what to ask about."
Unique Issues Faced By Male
Survivors
http://www.utexas.edu/student/cmhc/booklets/maleassault/menassault.html#anchor1010018
There is great societal denial of the fact that men get sexually assaulted. Chances are-- except for the occasional bad prison joke--most of us don't ever hear about the topic of male sexual assault. The need to deny the existence of male sexual assault is partly rooted in the mistaken belief that men are immune to being victimized, that they should be able to fight off any attacker if they are truly a "real man." A closely related belief is that men can't be forced into sex-- either they want it or they don't.
These mistaken beliefs allow lots of men to feel safe and invulnerable, and to think of sexual assault as something that only happens to women. Unfortunately, these beliefs can also increase the pain that is felt by a male survivor of sexual assault. These beliefs leave the male survivor feeling isolated, ashamed, and "less of a man."
No wonder so few men actually get help after being sexually assaulted. The fact is that only 5 to 20% of all victims of sexual assault actually report the crime-- the percentage for male victims is even lower. Feelings of shame, confusion and self-blame leave many men suffering in silence after being sexually assaulted.
Below are some of the unique problems and concerns that male survivors may experience:
For most men the idea of being a victim is very hard to handle. We're raised to believe that a man should be able to defend himself against all odds, or that he should be willing to risk his life or severe injury to protect his pride and self-respect. How many movies or TV shows have you seen in which the "manly" hero is prepared to fight a group of huge guys over an insult or name-calling? Surely, you're supposed to fight to the death over something like unwanted sexual advances...right? These beliefs about "manliness" and "masculinity" are deeply ingrained in most of us and can lead to intense feelings of guilt, shame and inadequacy for the male survivor of sexual assault.
Many male survivors may even question whether they deserved or somehow wanted to be sexually assaulted because, in their minds, they failed to defend themselves. Male survivors frequently see their assault as a loss of manhood and get disgusted with themselves for not "fighting back." These feelings are normal but the thoughts attached to them aren't necessarily true. Remind yourself that you did what seemed best at the time to survive-- there's nothing unmasculine about that.
As a result of their guilt, shame and anger some men punish themselves by getting into self-destructive behavior after being sexually assaulted. For lots of men, this means increased alcohol or drug use. For others, it means increased aggressiveness, like arguing with friends or co-workers or even picking fights with strangers. Many men pull back from relationships and wind up feeling more and more isolated. It's easy to see why male survivors of sexual assault are at increased risk for getting depressed, getting into trouble at work, getting physically hurt, or developing alcohol and drug problems.
Many male survivors also develop sexual difficulties after being sexually assaulted. It may be difficult to resume sexual relationships or start new ones because sexual contact may trigger flashbacks, memories of the assault, or just plain bad feelings. It can take time to get back to normal so don't pressure yourself to be sexual before you're ready.
For heterosexual men, sexual assault almost always causes some confusion or questioning about their sexuality. Since many people believe that only gay men are sexually assaulted, a heterosexual survivor may begin to believe that he must be gay or that he will become gay. Furthermore, perpetrators often accuse their victims of enjoying the sexual assault, leading some survivors to question their own experiences. In fact, being sexually assaulted has nothing to do with sexual orientation, past, present or future. People do not "become gay" as a result of being sexually assaulted.
For gay men, sexual assault can lead to feelings of self-blame and self-loathing attached to their sexuality. There is already enough homophobic sentiment in society to make many gay men suffer from internal conflicts about their sexuality. Being sexually assaulted may lead a gay man to believe he somehow "deserved it," that he was "paying the price" for his sexual orientation. Unfortunately, this self-blame can be reinforced by the ignorance or intolerance of others who blame the victim by suggesting that a gay victim somehow provoked the assault or was less harmed by it because he was gay. Gay men may also hesitate to report a sexual assault due to fears of blame, disbelief or intolerance by police or medical personnel. As a result gay men may be deprived of legal protections and necessary medical care following an assault.
Some sexual assaults of men are actually forms of gay-bashing, motivated by fear and hatred of homosexuality. In these cases, perpetrators may verbally abuse their victims and imply that the victim deserved to be sexually assaulted. It's important to remember that sexual assault is an act of violence, power and control and that no one deserves it.
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Last Updated: 12/11/2007
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