Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse: Experiences of Men Survivors in India

Abstract

Abstract Little is known about men and boys’ experiences of child sexual abuse (CSA) in India, particularly about their experiences of disclosing abuse. Disclosure experiences are often important as they can potentially make the path to recovery and healing more tractable or challenging for survivors. Using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with eleven adult men survivors of CSA in India varying in age, location and sexual orientation, to learn about their experiences of disclosing abuse. Barriers to disclosure included guilt, shame, protecting the perpetrator, protecting others from emotional stress and pain, stigma about same-sex sexual activity, and fear of minimisation of abuse experiences. Disclosure was further inhibited by pervasive silence in society about sexuality and sexual abuse. Responses to disclosure were varied and included supportive responses, silence and victim blaming. Findings demonstrate that disclosure experiences of men survivors were strongly influenced by patriarchal and heteronormative norms and practices. Social work has a role to play in building awareness of sexual abuse of boys, helping create a social environment where survivors can feel safe about disclosing abuse, and challenging the oppressive structures of patriarchy and heteronormativity.