Culture of silence regarding young male assault victims, Part 2
“These issues thrive on silence,” says a program director of an organization devoted to reducing violence against young people.
The “issues” that individual is referring to are centered on the scourge of sexual assault acts perpetrated by adults — both male and female offenders — against young juvenile males.
The resounding silence that often surrounds such heinous behavior is at once compellingly sad and predictable: Young male victims are many times averse to coming forward because they feel overwhelming shame. A recent media article discussing the culture of silence surrounding sexual assault acts committed against male juveniles cites a government report and one its central conclusions “that male social norms stigmatize seeking help.”
That report further notes that the wall of silence can be especially thick in instances where a victim was preyed upon by a female authority figure, such as a coach or teacher. As hard as it can be for a young male to divulge the details of a criminal sexual encounter with an older male, it can be even more difficult to identify a female perpetrator.
Such female-driven encounters are more common than many people might realize, and their illegality and resulting harm to a juvenile is just as patent as is any case involving an adult male. One national organization focused upon crime victims states that about 14 percent of sex crime cases reported by male victims features a female wrongdoer.
Society needs to do a better job of acknowledging that reality and helping victims come forward without feeling shame. It can be critically important that they do so, in order to partake of necessary therapy and gain closure.
Serving clients throughout the Greater Los Angeles and Southern California area, we represent victims in a variety of civil litigation cases. If you or a loved one has been injured, turn to an experienced Los Angeles personal injury or sexual assault lawyer.
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