NCJ Number
124989
Date Published
1989
Length
85 pages
Annotation
While similarities between male and female victims of child sexual abuse are significant, the special circumstance of sexually abused boys has received relatively minor attention in professional literature.
Abstract
Research addressing sexual contact between boys and adults suggests that between 2.5 and 5 percent of males are sexually abused before they reach 13 years of age. Boys are often reluctant to report their victimization. From a very early age, boys are reinforced to be aggressive rather than passive and are hesitant to admit behavior that does not meet this expectation. Perhaps the most powerful factor in under-reporting is the social stigma of homosexuality. Not only does this stigma inhibit the victim from reporting, but it may also be the primary factor in preventing parents from reporting a child's abuse to social and legal agencies. By outlining problems associated with sexually abused boys, the manual seeks to help professionals assess sexual abuse in relation to what is known or speculated about male victims. Four chapters review literature relevant to male victimization in the areas of reporting, interviewing, therapy, and validation. Another chapter examines case histories of boy victims, and two chapters report the author's experience with the assessment and case management of over 200 young male victims referred to a multidisciplinary child protection team. Appendixes examine traumagenic dynamics in the impact of sexual abuse and sex offenses against children. 35 references, illustrations.