08/29/2025
One Brave Thing: Insight from Dr. Lisa Littlejohn Hill
"My clinical work has offered me the opportunity to hold space for and with many survivors of sexual trauma. Never is that space more tender and tough, than with that of male survivors. Research suggests that 1 in 13 boys experience sexual abuse during childhood, and 1 in 10 men will experience sexual assault at some point during their lifetime. The stigma and myths of male invulnerability can be a barrier for seeking help and many men go most of their lives without disclosing. Like that of other survivors of sexual trauma, the psychological and emotional impact of male sexual trauma is wide-ranged and can include depression, intimacy and relationship issues, shame or self-blame, addiction, employment instability and suicidal ideation. These issues and others are often hidden within silence and isolation. Understanding male socialization, breaking stigmas through supportive networks, and advocacy are identifiable ways that we as a community can better understand the uniqueness of this pervasive issue. In addition, when loved ones, friends and allies ensure male survivors that they are believed, seen, and heard, they simultaneously create space for healing and recovery."
