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This research examines how men make sense of their experiences with sexual victimization. Through 19 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with men who experienced sexual victimization since turning 18 years old, this research provides insight into how men progress through the recovery process, including how they actively transformed from viewing themselves as a victim into viewing themselves as a survivor. For the participants, this process meant revising their masculinity so they could embody a new identity that did not stigmatize their experience. The conclusions suggest the development of an alternate narrative of men who experience sexual victimization that does not include gender stereotypes. Limitations of the study and implications for future research are also discussed.

AbstractThroughout popular media, there are stories about people being victimized because they are seen as different from the majority of people in society. Although there is a stigma aspect to these stories, the role that stigma plays in victimization is never truly examined. This paper uses an intersectional framework to discuss the role stigma plays in victimization. Through the discussion of male sexual assault victims, this paper sheds light on the varying construction of masculinity and how this meshes with the stigma process creating varying experiences for male victims. Issues associated with being a male victim of sexual assault are discussed, including a comparison with female victims and a discussion of how the construction of masculinity varies in different communities to illustrate how the experiences of male victims changes depending on their race, class, and sexuality. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of how a better understanding of male sexual assault victims could provide needed assistance for them.