It happened to boys too

Home: Survivors: For Males: It happened to us

Although the incidence of reporting of male sexual abuse has increased, we know from talking with adult males today, that a large number of cases still go unreported. The gains made by women in relation to the recognition of female sexual abuse as a problem in our community may have made it easier for males to speak out about their own experiences of abuse and to seek help.

When the booklet on the experiences of female survivors was published in 1992, about one quarter of the cases of child sexual abuse recorded by the Department of Human Services involved boys. Since then there has been a marked increase in reported cases of both male and female child sexual abuse. The incidence of abuse of boys has risen from one quarter to one third of all cases of child sexual abuse reported to the Department of Human Services in Victoria.

Available statistics show that there has been an increase in reporting across all age levels with the highest numbers of reported cases occurring with boys aged between five and eleven years ¹.

Abusers come from all walks of life. The majority of abusers are male (97 per cent) but they may also be female. Most perpetrators are known to the victim. They are often in positions of power and trust. They can be a close family member such as a parent, step parent, aunt or uncle, or they can be a neighbour or a stranger.

Research involving both male and female children indicates that where the identity of the abuser was recorded, fathers were most often identified as the abuser ³. However, the experience of many of the contributors differed from this. This reflects the fact that reports to the Department of Human Services only involve abuse which is occurring within the family. Instances of abuse outside the family are managed by the police service.

From a very early age, repeated sexual abuse by a family member including fathers and grandfathers was a common experience for contributors. Other abusers were often trusted adults known to the child, including family friends, neighbours, members of the clergy and a teacher.

Abuse by a stranger also occurred but was the least common experience among the participants.

Sexual activity between a child and older person is inappropriate because children are never in a position to give informed consent to such activities.

Child sexual abuse is a criminal offence.

Children may be sexually abused by family members (incest), by acquaintances or by strangers.

Child sexual abuse is committed in all types of families, regardless of cultural, economic or education level.

Children of all ages - from infants to adolescents, may be sexually abused. Child sexual abuse may occur once or many times over a period of months or years.

Over ninety percent of child sexual abuse perpetrators are male.

Child sexual abuse is committed against both boys and girls; however girls are abused far more often than boys. Girls are more likely to be abused by a family member, whereas boys are more likely to be abused by someone known to them outside the family.

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Department of Human Services

Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 21 May 2010