Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697801160618.pdf (Liberia)
FOR MALE SURVIVORS!

MALE SURVIVORS AT STÍGAMÓT!

• Men comprise 10-20% of the survivors who seek help at Stígamót annually."

• Over half of the male survivors who visit • Stígamót were sexually abused as children."

A larger ratio of men, compared to women, experience anger as an after-effect of sexual violence.

In addition, more men, compared to women, mention alcohol, drug abuse and pornography consumption as having a negative impact on their quality of life."
• Men often seek help years or even decades after the abuse has taken place."

PERPETRATORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE CAN BE:!

Friends; Colleagues; Caregivers; Spouses; Class and school mates; Coaches; Parents; Siblings; Relatives; Strangers; Family friends; Acquaintances; Teachers; Neighbors."

THE PERPETRATOR IS ALWAYS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND NEVER THE SURVIVOR.!

WHAT IS SEXUAL VIOLENCE?!


When someone is forced or coerced into a sexual activity, against their will and without their consent, it is called sexual violence or abuse."

Sexual violence can take many different forms.

Some of them are:!
Some of them are:!

• Rape" • • • • Online/digital sexual abuse" • Harassment" • Incest and sexual abuse of children" Sexual harassment" Pornography" Violence in close relationships (including marriage)" • Prostitution" • Human trafﬁcking" • Institutional violence through personal services" MEN ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE ABUSED BY:!

Male perpetrators 85%" Female perpetrators 9%" Male and Female perpetrators 6%" (Stigamótʼs annual reports 2011-13) COMMON REACTIONS TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE!
Sexual violence is a traumatic event and people react to it in different ways.

A wide spectrum of reactions are considered normal and there are no right or wrong ways to react.

For instance, it is normal to freeze, to do things to minimize harm, to ﬁght back or try to ﬂee.

It is normal to feel powerless when one looses control, or one feels that all power has been taken away from them.

It can be normal not to remember anything, or not recall what happened exactly.
It is normal not to tell anyone, or not to report the incident."

CONSEQUENCES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE/ ABUSE!

Sexual violence can have various consequences and they vary from one person to the next."

" Low Self-Esteem: Feeling ashamed, dirty, powerless, unworthy and unintelligent."

" Addictions/obsessions: Uncontrollable consumption of alcohol, drugs, sex or food.

Excessive shopping, gambling, exercising or overworking to lessen difﬁcult feelings and/or memories."
" Sexual Difﬁculties: Fear of sex, numbness or ﬂashbacks during sex, lack of boundaries and excessive, compulsive or damaging sexual actions."

" Relationship and Communication Problems: Difﬁculties in maintaining relationships, including friendships, relationships with co- workers and romantic relationships."

" Depression: Being emotionally closed off.

Internalizing problems.

Not being able to enjoy activities that have previously been enjoyable and nurturing.

Feeling hopeless about the future."


" Anxiety: Frequent feelings of anxiety, experiencing panic attacks and fears related to the violence, e.g.

in certain locations, situations, among people or atmosphere. "

" Isolation: Avoiding friends and/or family members.

Difﬁculties in trusting other people."

" Physical Symptoms: Persistent physical pain such as headaches, stomach aches, exhaustion and low energy."

ACCORDING TO DOMINANT CULTURAL NORMS, MEN ARE SUPPOSED TO: ! "
... be in control of all aspects of their lives, so if and when a man is sexually abused/ violated, he should be able to stop the perpetrator."

" ... be willing to engage in sex at any time, any place and with almost anyone.

Anything less is a sign of an impaired masculinity and a lack of libido."

" ... be able to handle trauma without needing to seek help."
" Many men blame themselves for not being able to resist the perpetrator and the violence/abuse, like ʻrealʼ men are supposed to in every situation."

" Main reasons for male survivors not seeking help are the feelings of shame and guilt, as well as the self-accusations they experience.

All of these are common for survivors of sexual violence.

These feelings are maintained through social misconceptions about masculinities on the one hand, and sexual violence on the other."

MYTHS ABOUT MALE SURVIVORS!


Boys and men cannot be sexually abused.

WRONG."

" Men cannot sexually abuse other men.

WRONG."

" In most cases boys are sexually abused by homosexual men.

WRONG."

" If men experience arousal or an orgasm during the sexual abuse, then they are willing participants who enjoyed the act.

WRONG."

" Boys who are sexually abused by a man become homosexual.

WRONG."

" Those who have been sexually abused will become abusers themselves.

WRONG."
WRONG."

" If the sexual abuse is committed by a female perpetrator, the boy or man should consider himself lucky.

WRONG."

" THE TRUTH IS: Men can be subjected to sexual violence, both as children and as adults.

The consequences can be very harmful and can negatively affect their quality of life."

IMPROVED WELL BEING!

It is possible to work through the after-affects of sexual violence with the help of a counselor or through participation in a self-help group.
People who have sought help report numerous positive changes:" " • They no longer feel like a victim but a person who survived."

• They are able to think about the incident without loosing control of their emotions."

• They no longer place the blame and shame within themselves."

• They are no longer re-traumatized by the memories of the incident (such as uninvited nightmares and ﬂashbacks)."

• They experience less fear, anxiety, depression or feelings of isolation."
• They experience less sexual difﬁculties."

• They no longer see themselves as damaged, but instead tap into their inner strength and value as an individual."

• They experience self-conﬁdence and respect, instead of self-doubt and self-accusations."

• They experience improved, nurturing and sincere relationships with loved ones, friends and colleagues."

Supported provided by: !


Forvarnarsjóður Reykjavíkurborgar" STÍGAMÓT IS A SELF-HELP CENTER FOR MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND WANT TO !

IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.!

OUR EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT SURVIVORS WHO ATTEND AT LEAST FOUR COUNSELING SESSIONS OR MORE, REPORT INCREASED SELF ESTEEM, AND LESS FEELINGS OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS.!

GETTING HELP IS A CRUCIAL STEP ON THE PATH TO RECOVERY.!

Stígamót provides:!
Stígamót provides:!

Private counseling sessions" Phone counseling sessions" Self-help groups" Anonymous online chat" All Services are Free.!

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Full Conﬁdentiality.!

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To make an appointment:!

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Tel.

562 6868!

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Email: stigamot@stigamot.is !

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Counseling sessions with male or female counselors available.

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Further information and online chat available on: www.stigamot.is!