By Ramona Alaggia
Abuse and violence have long been constructed along gender lines, with the dominant framework emphasizing male perpetrators and female victims. Although most sexual crimes are committed by men, this should not discount the reality that males, especially in childhood, are as vulnerable to sexual victimization as females. Reported rates of child sexual abuse have long been regarded as the "tip of the iceberg," with Canadian rates of female victimization estimated at about one in four for girls before age 18 and about one in six for boys. However, recent studies suggest that prevalence rates of sexual abuse of boys have been significantly underestimated and may be closer to those of girls.
Continue reading Reaching beyond gendered responses to address male victimization.
