MYTHS OF MALE SEXUAL ABUSE
Factors in Under Reporting
- Most sexual abuse of boys by males is perpetrated by homosexual men.
- While it is true that some gay men molest young boys, it is more often true that boys are abused by heterosexual men. These are often men who have abused many boys over a long period of time. They may not discriminate between the genders of their victim and will choose whoever is most vulnerable and/or available. Groth and Birnmaum (1979) report that offenders attracted to boy victims typically report that they are uninterested in or repulsed by adult homosexual relationships and find the young boy’s feminine characteristics and absence of secondary sexual characteristics, such as body hair, appealing. Since many parents believe this myth, they discourage reporting or minimize the effects based on their own fears.
- Most child molesters were victims themselves of sexual abuse or the converse, most victims turn out to be abusers.
- About 35% of perpetrators report being victimized as children. It is not known how many male victims turn into perpetrators, but we are learning that many more men have been sexually abused than previously surmised and these men are not necessarily abusers.
- Boys are often willing participants and enjoy the sexual experience.
- A sexual experience especially with an older woman, would not be considered abusive by many in our society; in fact, it might easily be considered part of his normal sexual experience: witness the “Summer of ’43” movie. Many boys who were involved in such an experience would probably boast of it to their peers. Yet, if the roles in such a movie were reversed; i.e., the seduction of a teen age girl by an older man, it would more clearly ring of sexual abuse. Boys are definitely given more license to have a wide variety of sexual experiences that are seen as part of the male sexual socialization process. Males are thought to have a high sex drive and need outlets for its expression. When something abusive does occur, it is not as likely to be placed within the contest of an abuse incident. Rogers & Terry (1984) report that boys who are bribed or who prostitute themselves are rarely identified as victims but are often perceived as hustlers even though many have experienced earlier sexual abuse. Lanning & Burgess (1984) report that the primary victims of adult sex rings and child pornography are boys.
- Boys are less traumatized by the abuse experience than girls.
- Boys do report experiencing more pleasure than girls from the experience and would seem less traumatized perhaps because they do not place it in the same context as girls. Some studies do report males as less negatively affected (Fritz, Stolls & Wagner, 1981; Maggio, 1985). Dean & Woods (1985), however, found that the men in their study initially reported being unaffected but, after undergoing a three hour interview to gather information, many of the man reversed their original position and felt they had been negatively affected. Johnson & Sieverts (1985) reported that 65% of the males reported the sexual assault had a negative impact on their lives. Finkelhor (1984) reported that 33% of the college students in his study rated the abuse negatively while 66% of the girls had a negative rating. However, the same sample of males showed a lower score than the women on sexual self-esteem inventory and both males and females were loser on this measurement than non-victims. It is important to remember that not all children (boys or girls) exhibit the symptoms normally thought to exist following a sexual abuse experience. In a study of 369 children using a comparison group (Conte, 1985) 21% of the children showed no symptoms following the abuse. In this study, the most important factor in reducing the effects was the presence of at least one supportive adult relationship. Twenty-four percent of this sample were boys. The primary negative effects were poor self-image, aggressive and fearful, less rational and confident, likely to withdraw from usual activities, likely to be overly anxious to please adults and to act out behaviorally. The more pathological the family, the greater the effects on the child. Clearly, there are negative effects for boys and girls. The question that needs to be considered here is if males are really less effected or are they more able to deny the effects?
- Boys abused by males grow up to be homosexuals.
- There is evidence to show that this may have some basis. Both Finkelhor (1984) and Johnson & Shrier (1985) report that the sexually abused males in their samples reported engaging in homosexual behavior much more often than the controls. The men in the Finkelhor study were over four times more likely to have engaged in homosexual activity during the year prior to filling out the questionnaire than non-victims while in the Johnson & Shrier study, the male adolescents who were sexually abused identified themselves as currently homosexual nearly seven times as often and bisexual nearly six times as often as the control group. It is not clear if these are men who feel comfortable with either their behavior or their orientation. The fear of being labeled homosexual or the uncertainty about sexual orientation seem important factors in under reporting.
- Boys are able to protect themselves from sexual abuse.
- Clearly, this is a myth that many males believe as evidenced by the shame felt for failing to accomplish this. Dean & Woods reported that 75% of the men in their sample felt shame for failing to stop the abuse from occurring. Boys may not be viewed as vulnerable by the service system designed to protect them either. One study (Pierce & Pierce) indicated that boys far less often than girls are placed outside the home once the abuse has been discovered.
- Males are the initiator in sexual encounters.
- The sexual abuse of males gets dismissed on this basis. In other words, they got what they were looking for. This is not true based on the few studies that looked at this. Dean & Woods reported all the men in their sample were coerced by the offender and 75% of the perpetrators in their study were women. Finkelhor reported that 91% of the men reported that the older person initiated the sexual contact
- If a male has an erection and ejaculates, this implies consent.
- Sarrell & Masters (1982) found in their study that all the males who were sexually assaulted reported experiencing erections and often ejaculated during the abuse despite the fact they felt intimidated, embarrassed and even terrorized.
- Other Factors
- Ellerstein et al. (1980), in reviewing cases of sexual abuse that came through a New York hospital emergency room discovered there was no protocol for the management and diagnosis of male patients. The lack of a standardized procedure for diagnosis of potential male sexual abuse victims may have some bearing on under reporting.
Boys are usually allowed more freedom because they are thought to be capable of protecting themselves. This may put them at greater risk for being sexually abused by someone outside the family, but may also hinder their reporting an experience for fear of losing their freedom.
Males are socialized to show physical and emotional strength. Victimization renders a person helpless and powerless both of which are difficult feelings for males to acknowledge.
Peter Dimock, A.S.C.W.
1656 Laurel Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
- Ellerstein et al. (1980), in reviewing cases of sexual abuse that came through a New York hospital emergency room discovered there was no protocol for the management and diagnosis of male patients. The lack of a standardized procedure for diagnosis of potential male sexual abuse victims may have some bearing on under reporting.