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Information, resources, and insights for your journey.

At least 1 in 6 men have been sexually abused or assaulted.

Researchers have found that at least 1 in 6 men have experienced sexual abuse or assault, whether in childhood or as adults. And this is probably a low estimate, since it doesn’t include noncontact experiences, which can also have lasting negative effects. If you’ve had such an experience, or think you might have, you are not alone.

Behind the Statistic

Defining Unwanted Sexual Experiences

How people define their own experiences and the labels they assign them (or don’t), are very important—and we’re not interested in imposing labels. Instead, we’re offering a framework for thinking about past sexual experiences that may have caused or contributed to current problems.

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Common Questions

If you’ve landed here, you probably have lots of questions—or a couple of big, burning ones. In this section, the most common questions we’ve been getting for years will be on menu to the left. If your question isn’t listed there, you may find the answer in Topics.

We don’t have all the answers, or the perfect ones for a unique person like you. Some of the information may not apply to you or match up with your experience. That’s OK. Decide what’s useful for you, and leave the rest.

See the Questions

Topics

Here you’ll find information on topics relevant to many men who have experienced sexual abuse or assault, including shame, guilt, memories, masculinity, relationships, getting triggered, recovery, and more. If you’re wondering about a topic that isn’t mentioned in this section, it may be addressed in Common Questions.

Explore Topics

Male Survivor Stories

Everyone’s story is unique, but you may find that other men’s experiences shed light on your own.

  • “That I can stand before camera, that I can stand before people and talk—it has been a long journey.”

  • Speaking out publicly and working to change Georgia’s statute of limitation laws have helped to Alan to get his power back, a crucial step in his healing.

  • Profoundly neglected as a child, then sexually abused by priests, Alan has finally found a community among fellow survivors at MSSAT in Christchurch, New Zealand.

  • Alastair has transformed his own trauma by creating community resources for fellow survivors, from Leicester, England to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and soon beyond.

  • “[Poetry] seemed like the best way to express some of the things that were going on for me.”

  • Andy overcame years of addiction and now helps others who are learning to live their lives free of drugs and alcohol.

  • After 46 years of silence, Barry finally disclosed his secret, and now he is looking ahead to a new life of openness and activism.

  • Nightmarish memories have forced Bill to re-define his childhood, but he has embraced the challenge and the meaning it has given to the rest of his life.

  • Drawing on his courage and determination, and on the grace of the music he creates at the piano, Bill is winning the struggle to overcome the ravages of his childhood.

  • After confronting the emotional legacies of the abuse, Bjarne Kristian rediscovered the fearless boy who hurtled off ski jumps in the Norwegian hills.

  • “I guess what led me to come forward is these emotions were just rising.”

  • Overcoming a childhood ravaged by severe domestic violence and sexual abuse, Brent has found within himself a wellspring of compassion for himself, and for those who harmed him.

  • “I’m no longer comfortable being a survivor in silence.”

  • Brett is transforming the trauma of abuse through his art and spirituality, using film and music to heal the wounds of his childhood.

  • “We have to feel. We have to. We have to break out beyond… the ‘man box.'”

View All Stories

Facts & Myths

Here we address some myths that everyone absorbs to some extent. These myths are big obstacles to understanding and healing, so it’s really important to know just how wrong they are.

Learn the Facts

For Family and Friends

If you know a man who has experienced sexual abuse or assault, you may be wondering how you can best support him. Maybe you’re just beginning to learn about the negative effects of such an experience, or maybe you’ve been dealing with these issues for years. Remember: your needs matter, too.

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For Service Providers

If you’re a service provider working with men, you’ve come to the right place. We’re committed to educating clinicians and other providers about links between men’s unwanted or abusive sexual experiences and a variety of problems in their lives, as well as state of the art treatment options.

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BOOKS + FILMS

Recommended books and films for men who have experienced sexual abuse or assault, their loved ones, and service providers.

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