Breaking the Silence

The following editorial ©1999 is by Clema Lewis, Chairperson
St. Croix Abuse & Neglect Task Force

In many articles and editorials concerning sexual abuse, there is an assumption that all victims are women and girls and that the perpetrators are men. However, boys are also victims of abuse, and carry their scars into adulthood.

           The concept of male victims and male survivors of abuse is difficult for many to grasp, because the stereotype that categorizes men as strong and silent is alive and well.

           Rape and sexual assault are crimes that affect all of US. Statistics show at least 20 percent of women are raped in their lifetime.

           Nationwide statistical reports show one out of six boys are victims of sexual assault. The fact is that men and boys can be sexually assaulted, too. Males are sexually assaulted as both children and adults, in their homes and in institutional settings. The impact of sexual violence is traumatic to the victim.

           Sexual assaults result from perpetrators attempting to feel more powerful than their victims. Individuals who society perceives as having less power are often at a greater risk.

            Men generally find it threatening and are reluctant to be labeled as victims, and therefore are unwilling to acknowledge the damage that has impacted their lives.

           Sexual abuse of children an epidemic in our society. More than 85 percent of sexually abused children are molested by a family member. This is a crime that involves the abuse of power and betrayal of trust.

          When males are sexually assaulted, there tend to be some different patterns surrounding the circumstances of the assault. Boys are often physically abused in addition to the sexual abuse.

           Boys are commonly abused by the people who they know and trust but who are not family members.

           Sexual assault is any non-consensual sexual act which is forced by one or more persons upon another.

           In the U.S. Virgin Islands, having sexual contact and/or sexual relations with boys under the age of 16 is against the law.

     The effects of sexual abuse on boys include the following:

• Boys suffer confusion over sexual identity and fear of homosexuality.
• They may display increased aggressive behavior after the abuse.
• There is strong denial or minimization of the impact of the abuse on the part of the parents.
• Boys may have a tendency to re-enact their abuse by abusing other children.
• The child's sense of self-esteem is lowered.
• They may become adult perpetrators of sexual assault.

           When men are assaulted by women and come forward, they are told that something must be wrong with them if they did not enjoy it. Many times friends, family members, interacting medical staff and police officers will blame the victim for this crime.

           Sexual abuse is a crime that scars both genders. But, because of society's sexual biases and male machismo, boys are often overlooked and are labeled as perpetrators more often than victims.

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