Breaking with Norms of Masculinity: Men Making Sense of Their Experience of Sexual Assault

Abstract

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.

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“…[ 32 ]. However, recent studies have gradually demonstrated that sexual assault against men is not as uncommon as previously suggested, like dark under the lamp, and has always been ignored by the public [ 33 , 34 ].…”

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Love/sex and self-esteem: a review of literature

“…Sexual abuse is linked to the self-esteem of both victim and offender at the time of the incid ent or later. Male survivors may develop concerns about their masculinity, which is integral to male selfimage and esteem, from having been a sexual victim (Petersson & Plantin, 2019). Female survivors have more negative feelings about sex, report less sexual satisfaction, and are two to four times more seemingly than other women to have chronic pelvic pain and to experience depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem (Brotto et al, 2012;Rellini & Meston, 2011).…”