Library and Academic Services: Sexual Violence Awareness -- Education, Prevention and Supports: Male Survivors

Introduction

Male Survivors

Sexual violence can happen to anyone, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. While women are at greater risk than men of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sexual harassment, there is growing recognition of and research into sexual violence experienced by men. In fact, studies have found that 1 in 10 rape victims are male and that 1 in 6 men have experienced sexual violence.

Male survivors may face challenges in accessing supports in the aftermath of a traumatic incident due to social attitudes and stereotypes about men and masculinity. The resources below aim to shed light on this topic, bringing together recent studies and resources for male survivors. These resources are included throughout the guide but have been consolidated here as well for ease of review.

Image source: Pixabay.com

Web-based Video Resources

Reimagining masculinity; my journey as a male sexual assault survivor | Landon Wilcock | TEDxQueensU

As a survivor of sexual assault, Landon came to view his life as one broken into many pieces. He offers a unique perspective on how we can move forward as a society in dealing with not just male survivors but all victims of sexual assault. Landon shares his story and explains the factors that prevented him from seeking help from anyone for months after the assault. Landon has had to learn how to view himself as a man, while rebuilding his own identity and masculinity.

Men Need To Talk About Their Sexual Abuse | Seth Shelley | TEDxUNBC

Pastor Seth Shelley takes us on an emotional and at times difficult journey about male sexual violence. He brings forward his own story of sexual assault to ask men to open up about their personal stories too. Seth speaks to an issue common around the world, sexual assault. However, it is men who also need to share their stories of abuse. Far too many men are silent about their own stories of trauma and eventual healing. It is our society's ideas around masculinity which prevent men from opening up and steal their narratives from them. Only through sharing with friends and family do we reclaim our stories for ourselves.

Sheldon Kennedy
Sheldon Kennedy’s early life looks like a Canadian boy’s dream: winning the Memorial Cup as captain of the Swift Current Broncos, winning gold in the 1988 World Junior Hockey Championship and playing eight years in the National Hockey League. What people could not see in Sheldon’s life was the damage of years of sexual abuse that began when he was 14. It would remain hidden until Sheldon made the courageous decision to share his painful story.

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Reports, Papers and Articles

Male Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence in Canada
Men in Canada experience intimate partner violence (IPV) in significant numbers, yet little attention has been paid to their needs. In part, this is because more women are harmed by their partners and there is a shortfall of resources to meet their demand for services. This paper was commissioned by the Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime to assess the extent that male survivors of IPV receive their entitlements under the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights.
Male survivors of sexual abuse and assault: Their experiences
Over the past three decades, the Canadian criminal law on sexual assault and other sexual offenses has changed quite significantly through both the courts and parliament. It is now recognized that males, both as children and as adults, can be victims and survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault.
Petersson, C., & Plantin, L. (2019). Breaking with Norms of Masculinity: Men Making Sense of Their Experience of Sexual Assault. Clinical Social Work Journal, 47(4), 372–383.
In recent years, the sexual assault of males has received growing attention both in the research literature and among the public. Much of the research has focused on documenting prevalence rates or the psychological consequences of male sexual assault. However, this article aims to understand how men, as gendered, embodied and affective subjects, make sense of their experiences of sexual assault.
Purnell, D. (2019). Me(n)Too: Storying a Male-on-Male Sexual Assault. Journal of Loss & Trauma, 24(3), 226–237.
An individual life is simultaneously flawed and valuable. All victims and survivors of sexual assault are unique, as are their stories. The culture of shame surrounding sexual assault on men shows victimization as a weakness. This attitude is sanctioned by the inherent gender inequality present within societies. These inequalities played a major role in my losing sight of my self-worth due to sexual assault,
Sexual Assault Against Boys Is a Crisis (Washington Post)
Raising a boy sometimes feels like traveling in a foreign land. When I gave birth to my daughter, three years before my son was born, I had no idea how to be a mother. But after decades of navigating life as a woman, I knew unequivocally what I wanted for her: to see herself as capable of anything, constrained by none of the old limits on who women must be and how they must move through the world. She could be fierce and funny and loving and steely-spined.
The Understudied Female Sexual Predator (The Atlantic)
Two years ago, Lara Stemple, Director of UCLA’s Health and Human Rights Law Project, came upon a statistic that surprised her: In incidents of sexual violence reported to the National Crime Victimization Survey, 38 percent of victims were men––a figure much higher than in prior surveys. Intrigued, she began to investigate: Was sexual violence against men more common than previously thought? The inquiry was a timely one. For years, the FBI definition of rape was gendered, requiring “carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will.” But a recent redefinition focused instead on forced penetration with no mention of gender. ...

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Library Resources

Male Victims of Sexual Assault by Gillian C. Mezey (Editor); Michael B. King (Editor)
Location: HV 6569.G7 M35 2000 (Located at NDC)
Since the first edition of Male Victims of Sexual Assault was published in 1992 there have been significant developments in our understanding of the prevalence and characteristics of the sexual assault of men. The first edition was influential in affording legal recognition to male victims ofrape in England and Wales and this has resulted in raised awareness of the problem and improved attitudes among all those responsible for dealing with the victims. This recognition has gone some way to breaking down the taboo, ...
Men's Experiences of Violence in Intimate Relationships by Lien, Marianne Inéz ; Lorentzen, Jørgen
Location: ebook
Publication Date: 2019
This open access book draws on a broad study on violence against men, from both male and female partners in Norway, to contribute to the research on intimate partner violence. It identifies similarities in men's experiences and backgrounds, including in their perceptions of their own victimisation. Marianne Inez Lien and Jørgen Lorentzen argue that the traditional gender power model should be modified and supplemented, and propose that we consider violence in terms ...
Men Too: Unspoken Truths About Male Sexual Abuse by Kelli Palfy
Publication Date: 2020
Male sexual abuse occurs far more commonly than previously suspected, yet too few victims ever seek support. Countless remain silent. They cope through avoidance, isolation, substance abuse, hyper-masculinity, etc. Men Too: Unspoken Truths About Male Sexual Abuse is for male survivors and their supporters. It is an educational, heart-wrenching look at 13 male sexual abuse victims' experience, written from the perspective of a retired police officer and registered psychologist.
This book is not available through OneSearch, but you can request it through our Inter-Library Loan service.
Why I Didn't Say Anything: The Sheldon Kennedy Story by Sheldon Kennedy
Location: ebook
Publication Date: 2011
In 1996, Sheldon Kennedy rocked the insular world of Canadian hockey by announcing that his former minor-league coach, Graham James -- the Hockey News 1989 Man of the Year -- had sexually abused him more than 300 times. The media portrayed Kennedy as a hero for breaking the code of silence in professional hockey and bringing James to justice. The heroic myth intensified in 1998 when Kennedy announced that he was going to in-line skate from Newfoundland to British Columbia to raise awareness of sexual abuse. ...

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Recommended Websites

1 IN 6
At least 1 in 6 men have been sexually abused or assaulted. If you’re a man who has experienced sexual abuse or assault, you’re not alone.
We’re here to support you in your path to a happier, healthier future.
Canadian Centre for Male Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse (cc4ms)
Canadian Centre for Male Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse (cc4ms) was established to provide treatment, support & assistance to adult male survivors through healing, education, advocacy & research.
Men and Sexual Assault (AASAS)
If you don't believe it's possible to sexually abuse or assault a guy, raise your hand. If your hand is waving in the air, you're not alone. But boy, are you wrong. Most research suggests that 10 to 20 per cent of all males will experience some form of sexual abuse or sexual assault at some point in their lives. That translates into thousands of Canadian boys and men being abused each year.
Sexual Assault of Men and Boys (RAINN)
Sexual assault can happen to anyone, no matter your age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Men and boys who have been sexually assaulted or abused may have many of the same feelings and reactions as other survivors of sexual assault, but they may also face some additional challenges because of social attitudes and stereotypes about men and masculinity.

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