NCJ Number
170808
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (1997) Pages: 31-47
Date Published
1997
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study explores the impact of sexual abuse on male sexual identity.
Abstract
The study used qualitative methodology in interviews with 10 sexually abused men. Participants ranged in age from 27 to 50. Four had been sexually abused exclusively by males, five by both males and females, and one exclusively by a female. Six of the men were abused by relatives, two by non-related caregivers, and two by neighbors. All but two of the informants were molested by more than one perpetrator, and two men reported that their mothers had behaved seductively toward them during their early teens. Findings suggest that male survivors struggle with the disparity between sexual victimization and societal stereotypes of masculinity. The greatest difficulty was with social sex role identity; however, male abuse survivors also questioned their gender identity. While participants had no sexual orientation identity problems, they tended to find sexual contact threatening. The article suggests implications for clinical practice. Table, references