I am a Male Identified Survivor
Help my male identified friend.
Sexual assault is devastating to all victims, regardless of gender, and you may experience feelings and reactions that are shared by both male and female victims. There are special issues that may be different for you. For example, you may be feeling some doubt about your sexuality or your masculinity if the offender was also a male, regardless of your sexual orientation. Remember, sexual assault is a crime of violence and power, not sex. You have done nothing to justify this attack. At no point and under no circumstance does a person have the right to violate another person's body.
There may be feelings or reluctance or hesitation to seek medical attention or to report to authorities. There may be feelings of fear or thinking someone may not believe you. If you are experiencing any of this, these feelings are normal after an assault even if the assault happened years ago. Remember that is is not your fault and you are not alone.
It doesn't matter if you are...
- Muscular or skinny
- Tall or short
- Outgoing or withdrawn
- A straight, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and/or questioning+ individual
- Old or young
...whatever your physical appearance, it is not your fault and you are not alone. There is help available to you, both on-campus and in the community.
Our How to Help Myself page can provide you with options and resources on Â鶹´«Ã½'s campus and in Kalamazoo. As a survivor, your priority is you. Are you in a safe place? Do you have the support you need (a friend, family member, or a counselor)? Are you aware of the options available to you concerning medical attention, reporting, and counseling?
You should do whatever you feel is right to care for yourself and recover from your experience of assault. Everyone deals with sexual assault differently, and no one can know what is right for you but you.
Finally, please remember you are not alone. 23.4% of men experience some form of sexual violence during their lifetimes (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2014).
Information on male survivors adapted from the College of William & Mary Sexual Assault Resources and Education Web site, 2007.