IT IS NOT ONLY WOMEN, IT IS MEN TOO. #hetoo

Sexual assault is not gender-specific, it can happen to anyone regardless of their age, color, gender, and sexual orientation. From ‘not all the men’ to ‘men are victims too’ we have reached the other side of the story. Men and the boys who have faced sexual abuse are not different, they also have the same feelings and reactions as any other survivors of sexual abuse. But with the kind of society we are in, they have some additional challenges because of some societal attitudes and beliefs like ‘men are strong, they can’t feel the pain, they should not cry, they are not supposed to be weak, and whatnot.’




Those who have been sexually abused might feel more pressure and fear in coming out. Men who were sexually abused might have reacted to it differently than teens or boys. Sex Offenders can be anyone - men, women and in any form, could be your friend, your close ones, your househelp, and the list is full of unpredictable people. 

There are some common experiences shared by the men and boys who have survived the sexual assault. It is not a full list but it may help you to provide some insights that they too go with similar pain and feelings like any other being.

  1. Anxiety, depression, and flashbacks where they also face eating disorders. 

  2. Avoid going to those places and people that remind them of the assault. 

  3. Shortness of breath and fear for the worst happening in the future. 

  4. Feeling like ‘less of a man’ because we got to accept  - society. They made us believe men always have to be a superman. 

  5. Worrying about disclosing the fear due to the judgement. 

  6. Cutting yourself off from friends and other relationships. 

What can you do to support them - 

  • Listen - Just like you will listen to any other being. It will be way too much harder for them to disclose it than anyone else. 

  • Validate their feelings - Let them know you are there for them and you care about them. 

  • Provide all the resources they need - Many men may face the barriers like while getting medical checkups, etc, take care of their many minor worries too. This will make them comfortable with you. 

  • Do not ask for the assault details - Never do this, even if you're curious. Never. 

Perpetrators can be anyone and the survivor needs to know that it is not your fault, it is them. The perpetrators can have some relationship with you, you might don’t know what is happening with you, they might use physical force or emotional tactics. They might fool you around in their beliefs. But always remember it is not your fault. If you don’t feel okay about it, fight, speak up, and never let them do this again. 

It is not only women, it is MEN too. It is #hetoo
Location: United States

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

8 VULNERABLE POINTS OF HUMAN BODY TO SAVE YOURSELF FROM SEX OFFENDERS.

Image
Imagine you were attacked, you and your life were threatened and you need to save yourself.  The human body is full of wonders, giving us many opportunities to fight back and also makes us vulnerable. There are many pressure points or you can say vulnerable points that you can use as your shield to fight back in case of an attack. The first and foremost thing is to aim at the most vulnerable parts of the body, especially if you aren’t engaged in any practice of self-defense moves.  Poke those Eyes - Well, a truth, if an attacker can’t see you, you will be much harder to grab. Poke or jab in the eyes to distract the attacker that will cause so much pain to him giving you enough time to run away from there.  Break that Nose - It is the most sensitive area that has many nerves. Palm strike the attacker’s nose and you’ll able to win some time to escape from there.  Punches in the Ears - When the only body part you can reach of an attacker is ears, don’t hold back. Show them the power of a
Read more

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Image
Unwanted sexual acts, violence in the house, assault at the workplace, and whatnot. Sexual Violence rises every single second. Here are some different types of sexual violence you might want to know - Sexual Harassment - which can be unwelcome verbal and physical sexual attention. One should feel comfortable in all the places whether it is your workplace or school. You can also report harassment to the authorities at your job, school, or local law enforcement. Stalking -  is unwanted or repeated surveillance by an individual or group toward another person. Keep yourself aware of stalking behaviors to help you prevent them and take steps to protect yourself.     Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse - once happened in childhood, it stays long with them. Many perpetrators of sexual abuse are in a position of trust or responsible for the child’s care, such as a family member, teacher, clergy member, or coach. Using Technology to Hurt Others - cybercrime is on the top of the list which is increa
Read more

SIGNS THAT AN ADULT MAY BE HURTING A CHILD

Image
Keeping children safe is so much challenging for many reasons and one of many is perpetrators who sexually abuse children, that are usually in positions of trust. According to the survey, 93 percent of child sexual assault victims know the perpetrator which includes family members, members of faith communities, coaches, teachers, and other helping professionals. Be cautious of an adult who spends time with children and exhibits the following behaviors: Does not respect boundaries or listen when someone tells them “no” Engages in touching that a child or child’s parents/guardians have indicated is unwanted Tries to be a child’s friend rather than filling an adult role in the child’s life Does not seem to have age-appropriate relationships Talks with children about their personal problems or relationships Spends time alone with children outside of their role in the child’s life or makes up excuses to be alone with the child Expresses unusual interest in child’s sexual development, such a
Read more