The Quebrar o Silêncio Association has supported 718 male victims of sexual violence in seven years of activity, recording an increase in cases of violence in adulthood, situations in which seeking help is especially difficult.
Speaking to Lusa, the president of an association that supports male victims of sexual violence said he had received 124 new requests for help from male and boy survivors in 2023 alone, “which represents a monthly average.” of 15 new calls for help in the first semester.”
Among the requests for help received by the association, Angelo Fernandez noted that in recent years there has been a “gradual increase in the number of men subjected to violence in adulthood.”
There are “some quirks” in these cases, especially when it comes to seeking help or reporting, as “there is still a strong belief that a man who is a man cannot be a victim of sexual assault,” he said.
The president of the association explained that many situations occur in the context of intimate relationships, where violence is committed by a person close to the victim and whom he trusts, emphasizing that there are also reports of violence in the context of health. services, such as consultation or treatment.
This is what happened to João (not his real name), 37, who says that during several consultations with an osteopath, he was forced to be naked for all sessions and was subjected to inappropriate touching by the osteopath.
“It was a very strange scenario,” he recalls, admitting that he never filed a complaint with the authorities and that seeking help was a journey that, with the support of Quebrar o Silêncio, allowed him to talk about the topic. .
Joao understands how strange his case may be for those listening who will not understand how he was exposed to such a situation several times and did not react immediately, but he is convinced that the fact that he was also abused as a child and that he If keep it to yourself, this episode may help explain, starting with the panicked reaction of those experiencing a trauma they thought they had forgotten again.
Antonio (not his real name), a 46-year-old affidavit, said he never expected to be sexually assaulted “in a group exercise class with several people present.”
“This is exactly what happened to me. (…) In the middle of the lesson, during a stretching exercise, the teacher came to correct my posture. (…) The problem was that he started touching me more than he should have. was to wait and stand behind me. (…) It seemed strange to me, because he did not need to stick more and more to my body. (…) Little by little I tried to move my face away from mine, but it forced him to press his pelvis against my buttocks. I didn’t know what else I could do,” he said, adding that “other people in the class didn’t say anything.”
He also states that he decided to contact Cebrard about Silencio to ask for help, and after trying to report the situation to the gym, which he says “showed no openness” to listen to him, “nor any sympathy.”
Angelo Fernandez explained that in these, as in similar cases, the abuser uses his status and power to abuse, sharing a very strong sense of impunity and security, drawing attention to the need to “work hard on empathy.”
“The vast majority of victims in such a situation become paralyzed and freeze. In other words, people often expect that the victim might react or run away by saying something, or even physically fight to try to stop the violence, but most freeze.”
The person in charge emphasizes that the fact that the victim does not react does not constitute any form of consent: “This is a natural reaction of the brain that causes paralysis in people.”
According to Angelo Fernandez, requests for help coming to the association from men who were victims of abuse in adulthood already account for about 10% of total support, and he believes that they will continue to grow.
He confirms his belief by the fact that in 2020 the association registered only two cases, and in 2023 their number increased to 12.
He added that one of the goals for 2024 is to work to “expose this reality” by demonstrating that similar incidents happen to adult men and that they should be able to recognize abuse and seek help.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.