Women and girls are not the only victims of sexual violence. Men and boys can be victims too, and ALL victims of sexual violence have the right to access services.
If you or a male you know has been the victim of sexual violence, these webpages can provide you with information that can help. Remember that you are not alone. Your experience with sexual violence was not your fault and is not an isolated problem.
Regardless of gender, services at The Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Many survivors of sexual violence do not disclose what has happened to anyone and this is particularly true of male victims. There are a number of myths and misconceptions about male victimization that act as barriers for boys and men to disclose and seek services. National statistics indicate that and 1 in 33 or about 3% of men1 will be victims of sexual assault in their lifetime and 1 in 6 men were sexually abused before the age of 182. These statistics should be considered conservative, as we know that a majority of all acts of sexual violence are not disclosed or reported. Additionally, many victims, including male victims do not identify or label the experience they have had as a criminal sexual act.
If you have experienced a sexual assault either as an adult or as a boy, you may have waited a long time to recognize or report this abuse, and this is understandable. Please know that the abuse was not your fault and that you are not alone. There is no one or “correct” way to respond to victimization. Although there are some commonalities, each victim/survivor will respond differently to the assault.
You may have experienced or be experiencing the following symptoms due to the victimization:
• Feelings of anger, sadness, fear, anxiety and depression
• Feelings of self-blame, guilt, shame or embarrassment
• A Feeling of loss of control
• Feelings of loneliness or isolation
• Disorientation or difficulty concentrating on school work or other activities
• Difficulty trusting and feeling vulnerable with other people
• Attempting to avoiding thinking about or denying what happened
• Experiencing nightmares or upsetting and intrusive thoughts
• Confusion about sexual identity
• Fear of engaging in sexual intimacy
• Inability to sleep or relax
• Changes in appetite, nausea or stomachaches
• General pain or physical discomfort
If you have been the victim of sexual violence, remember that it is NOT YOUR FAULT.
You deserve treatment to address the victimization and the after effects that you may be experiencing.
Click here to learn about your options for taking action.
For more online resources, please visit:
National Organization on Male Sexual Victimization/Male Survivor:
http://www.malesurvivor.org
1National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women Survey. 1998.
2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006
