I would like to share with you today the story of Marko Hamlin, a male survivor of childhood sexual abuse.
I make the point here of highlighting Marko's gender because so often the stories of men who have been abused go untold or are ignored or discounted.
We live in a time when emotional [I would add sexual abuse as well] abuse is not something that men are able to identify with because they are often ridiculed for acknowledging that they have emotions. When men are emotional, women and men often call them soft, weak, gay or homosexual and feminine. These references to the association of weakness and emotional needs of men are often just as abusive and traumatizing as when the man was first violated.
While I am beginning to see more and more male survivors coming forward, seeking support, and telling their stories, there is still work to be done. 1 in 6 men have experienced abuse - they deserve our attention and support!
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