Impacts / Effects of Sexual Harm on Survivors
Facts of Male Survivorship
Males can be victims of sexual abuse and rape.
Most sexual abuse of males is not perpetrated by homosexual males.
A boy or adult male can experience an erection, sexual arousal, and even orgasm from abusive contact without being a willing participant or enjoying it.
Boys can be significantly traumatized by sexual abuse.
Sexual abuse does not determine sexual identity/orientation.
Male survivors are not more likely to become sexual abusers.
Women can and do perpetrate sexual abuse.
Male survivors of child sexual abuse delay disclosure for, on average, 20 years.
Boys and men can be and are victims of sexual exploitation/trafficking.
What are the effects of child sexual abuse for adults?
If you experienced sexual abuse as a child, you may encounter a range of short- and long-term effects that many survivors face. Adult survivors of child sexual abuse may have some of the following concerns that are specific to their experience:
Guilt, shame, and blame. You might feel guilty about not having been able to stop the abuse, or even blame yourself if you experienced physical pleasure. It is important for you to understand that it was the person that hurt you that should be held accountable— not you.
Intimacy and relationships. It’s possible that your first experiences with sex came as a result of sexual abuse. As an adult, intimacy might be a struggle at times. Some survivors experience flashbacks or painful memories while engaging in sexual activity, even though it is consensual and on their own terms. Survivors may also struggle to set boundaries that help them feel safe in relationships.
Self-esteem. You may struggle with low self-esteem, which can be a result of the negative messages you received from your abuser(s), and from having your personal safety violated or ignored. Low self-esteem can affect many different areas of your life such as your relationships, your career, and even your health.
Why do I still feel this way?
As an adult survivor, you have been living with these memories for a long time. Some survivors keep the abuse a secret for many years. They may have tried to tell an adult and met with resistance or felt there was no one they could trust. For these reasons and many others, the effects of sexual abuse can occur many years after the abuse has ended. Remember that there is no set timeline for dealing with and recovering from this experience.
