Sexual abuse of male children

Sexual Abuse of Boys

Reference-

Watkins, B. & Bentovim, A. (1992). The sexual abuse of male children and adolescents: a review of current research. Journal of Clinical Psychology & Psychiatry, 33(10), 197-248.

Secrecy-

The subject of sexual abuse of the boy child is a very well kept secret
All conclusions of research must be interpreted with caution
The obvious cases are easy to recognize
No one knows the extent of those cases kept secret
Reasons for the secrecy surrounding the topic of the sexual abuse of boys is:
- Girls (not boys) are typically regarded as sexual beings
- It may be terrible to think that girls are sexually abused, but after all, they are girls
No one would sexually abuse a boy because boys are not sexually appealing

Generalities-

The abuser is generally at least 5 years older than the victim
Not too many years ago it was thought that girls were abused in far excess of boys and a ratio of 9:1 was suggested
This ratio, whatever it is, has been narrowing either with more abuse of the boy or more accurate recognition

Boys may react differently to sexual abuse

Boys may have a greater tendency to “act out” (externalize) their emotional with disruptive behaviors
Girls may have a greater tendency to “act in” (internalize) and become anxious or depressed

Reporting of Sexual Abuse-

Under-reporting is the rule
It is consistent and universal
Clinicians, teachers, parents may be ignorant
The child is immature & doesn’t understand

Blaming the Boys-

Under-reporting may be linked to boys being seen as not needing protection:

"Boys are tough"
"Boys don’t need protection"

Girls, on the other hand, are often blamed for the abuse especially by the abuser:

"Seductive child syndrome"

Child-Child Abuse-

This could be:

Cousin-cousin incest
Adolescent-child sexual abuse
Sibling incest
Sibling incest may be the most common form of incest
DeJong (1989) described a boy, whose abuse stopped by the age of 9 months; At 25 months this same boy was demonstrating sexual aggressiveness toward other children.
Girls, in child-child incest or sexual abuse, tend to molest two boys for every girl
It appears that girl cousins are twice as likely to abuse a boy relative than are brothers
It appears that a majority of sexual offenders begin their ‘careers’ in adolescence

Nature of Abuse-

Boys are more likely to be subjected to anal abuse than girls
Girls are likely to be anally abused when young and around 10 years of age the abuse tends to be vaginal
Boys are anally abused approximately equally at all ages
Anal abuse should be easier to identify

General Initial Effects of Sexual Abuse-

Confusion or anxiety over sexual identity
Inappropriate attempts to reassert masculinity
Recapitulation of the victimizing experience

Sexual Identity Confusion-

Victims, even at a young age, tend to show considerable concern over their gender identity
Some research shows that boys who were sexually molested by older men were four times more likely to be engaged in homosexual activity than non-victims
There appears to be a greater chance that boys who were molested by males would identify themselves as homosexuals than those molested by females
Adolescents often link their sexual victimization to their homosexuality
Only a minority of adult homosexuals report a homosexual experience in childhood
Only a minority of homosexuals have a sexual interest in children

Note: Fear of being perceived as perverted may significantly contribute to non-disclosure

Reasserting Masculinity-

Inappropriate attempts to reassert masculinity is perhaps the most common behavioral reaction of boy victims of sexual abuse; picking fights; destructiveness; marked disobedience; hostile or confrontative attitude
The male victim of sexual abuse is more likely to turn his rage outward in aggressive and antisocial behavior
Sexual abuse of the boy seems to be part of a legacy of rage
There may be a tendency for male victims of sexual abuse to recapitulate their own victimization, only this time in the role of perpetrator and someone else the victim

Patterns of Abuse-

Boys are usually younger than girls at first sexual abuse
Boys are least likely to present with their complaints of sexual abuse during adolescence when compared to girls
Boys are more likely to also be victims of physical abuse along with the sexual abuse
Boys are more likely to be abused forcefully than girls

Patterns of Discovery-

Boys are usually less willing to tell someone compared to sexually abused girls
Sexually abused boys are more commonly discovered via third parties, like sisters or cousins, than girls

Nature of Abuse-

Sexually abused boys usually have more physical findings
In the initial contact of boys there appears to be less fondling of boys (may more often get down to the real abusive act)
Boys experience less masturbatory abuse
Boys may experience more orogenital abuse
Boys do experience more anal abuse
Boys may experience more repetitive abuse
The severity of abuse in boys is usually greater
Boys less recognized as victims

Abusers-

Boys and girls equally likely to be abused by an extrafamilial individual
Boys and girls equally likely to be abused by strangers
Adolescent abusers more often chose boys as victims
Fathers more than stepfathers sexually abuse boys
Females are more likely to chose a boy than a girl to sexually abuse
It appears that when the abuser is a professional person, they may chose a boy over a girl
It appears that if the father is unemployed, he may chose the boy rather than the girl

Families of the Abused Boy-

The families in which a boy is being sexually abused is probably less likely to be African-American
It is more likely that the family where the boy is being abused will not be headed by a father

Service Response to Boys-

The boy is perceived as needing protection less often than girl
Sexually abused boys are provided less treatment than girls
Boy victims are less often removed from the family than girls

Initial Effects-

Boys, like girls, usually respond to abuse with sexualization (cross-dressing, etc.)

Longer Term Effects-

Male child/adolescent perpetrators have a frequent history of previous sexual abuse
Adult sex offenders often have history of previous sexual abuse
Sexually abused boys later have greater sexual identity confusion and increased likelihood of homosexuality
Sexually abused boys tend to have self-esteem and/or greater sexual dysfunction compared to non-abused males
They have an increased tendency towards compulsive sexuality
Self-report less psychological harm than non-abused boys
Abused boys have a greater prevalence of depression compared to non-abused males
They have more suicidal feelings than non-abused boys
They have an increased prevalence of anxiety disorders
They have more relationship problems

See also "Characteristics Observed In Male Sexual Abuse Victims"