In recent years, the sexual assault of males has received growing attention both in the research literature and among the public. Much of the research has focused on documenting prevalence rates or the psychological consequences of male sexual assault. However, this article aims to understand how men, as gendered, embodied and affective subjects, make sense of their experiences of sexual assault. In-depth interviews with ten adult males who have experienced sexual assault have been analyzed using a phenomenological approach in order to learn more about their lived and gendered experience. Four themes emerged from the analysis: (a) conflicting feelings and difficult conceptualizations, (b) re-experiencing vulnerability, (c) emotional responses and resistance, and (d) disclosure and creativity. The findings suggest that the ways in which men navigate norms of masculinity shape the way they understand, process and articulate their lived experience of sexual assault. As a way of coping with the experience and of healing from a past that is still present, the study participants perform an alternative masculine identity.Publisher's Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.Charlotte C. Petersson holds a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from the University of Gothenburg. Her work focuses on sexual health and gender violence in international settings. She is affiliated with the Centre for Sexology and Sexuality Studies at the Department of Social work, Malmö University, Sweden.Lars Plantin is a professor in Social work at Malmö University, Sweden. He works at the Centre for Sexology and Sexuality Studies and is currently conducting research on men and sexual abuse, sexual consent and sexual and reproductive rights among persons who sell sex.

This study explores how social work professionals at women’s shelters in Sweden experience, understand, and are responding to domestic violence under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative longitudinal research design was employed, and multiple semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 professionals at women’s shelters over a period of one year. The results are presented in three overall themes; (a) professional challenges due to increased needs, (b) professionals’ adjustments to new circumstances, and (c) professionals’ attributions regarding client barriers to help seeking. The results show diverse and changing experiences among the professionals as the pandemic progressed. Clients and professionals have shared the same collective trauma associated with the pandemic, which has affected the professionals’ understanding of and response to domestic violence. The professionals understand both clients and themselves as being more vulnerable and susceptible to risk under these new circumstances. Social work adjustments focused on maintaining contact, reducing risk and prioritizing safety, which had both positive and negative consequences for both clients and professionals. The study concludes that the professionals coped with the uncertainty they experienced during the pandemic by relying on both their previous knowledge and work experience of domestic violence and their experience of sharing trauma with clients.

Purpose Studies on sexual health following male child sexual abuse (CSA) have identified the negative effects of such experiences on body functioning, but little is known about male CSA survivors’ ability to create emotional and physical closeness in romantic relationships. The purpose of this article is to explore how male CSA survivors perceive, experience and develop intimacy in romantic relationships, including both the challenges they face and the positive changes that enable them to grow and achieve healthy relationships. Method The study has employed a qualitative research approach and is based on in-depth interviews conducted among adult male CSA survivors residing in Sweden. Participants were recruited through civil society organizations and an ad in a daily newspaper. Using reflexive thematic analysis, the results are presented in relation to two themes: (a) challenges of intimacy; and (b) building trust and close relationships. Results The results show that participants desired couple relationships that included both sexual and emotional intimacy. The challenges of intimacy were related to compromised sexual identity, sexual dysfunctions and compulsions, emotional dysregulation, and body shame. Efforts to achieve intimacy were facilitated by disclosing abuse experiences, developing emotional bonds or awareness, embracing sensitivity, and having an empathetic and supportive partner. Conclusions Reconstructions of abuse histories were both challenged and facilitated by the accessibility of various and shifting ideas about masculinities that co-exist in Sweden, which were important sources for meaning making and assisted the men in developing positive valuations of themselves as men.

När covid-19-pandemin nådde Sverige mobiliserade kvinnojourerna snabbt eftersom de visste vad en nedstängning av samhället skulle kunna betyda för kvinnor och barn som lever under hot och med våld i sina hem. På kort tid kom myndigheternas rekommendationer om att arbeta hemma, upprätthålla social distans och undvika resor att minska möjligheterna till rörlighet. Detta gjorde det särskilt svårt för kvinnor som levde under hot och kontroll att komma i kontakt med myndigheter och kvinnojourer. Syftet med denna artikel är att förstå hur relationen mellan samhället och kvinnor som är utsatta för hot och våld i hemmet under pandemitider ser ut. Analysen utgår från en teoretisk modell för ”det immunitära livet”, för att förstå förhållandet mellan individ och samhälle. Studien består av telefonintervjuer som genomfördes våren 2020 med personal vid fem olika kvinnojourer. Ett viktigt resultat i studien är att misshandlade kvinnor under pandemin riskerar att berövas möjligheterna att skapa viktiga relationer med samhället, något som exempelvis kvinnojourer annars möjliggör.

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