Between 10 and 20% of men have suffered a sexual assault during their lives in Quebec, but this rate could be underestimated due to male socialization, raises a first report from the Regroupement des organisms québécois pour les hommes molestes sexually ( ROQHAS).
The prevalence of violence among men is even higher among certain groups, such as “men from GBTQ+ communities, students, First Nations and Inuit men and men with disabilities.”
ROQHAS reports that “young gay and bisexual men are nearly five times more likely to have experienced childhood sexual abuse compared to heterosexual men.”
As for students, it is estimated that approximately one in four men will experience some form of sexual violence in a college or university setting, the document indicates.
“Statistics on sexual assault would only scratch the tip of the iceberg in the number of actual offenses among men, knowing that it is one of the least reported crimes,” the report states. In Quebec, men are twice as likely as women to never disclose their sexual abuse.
The group recognizes that there are far fewer sexual assaults experienced by men than by women, but it emphasizes that these abuses deserve to be recognized.
The report highlights the challenges in detecting sexual assault among men. He affirms that there is a lack of resources for these victims, which was recognized in 2020 by the committee of experts on support for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
According to ROQHAS, the solution is “to fight against gender stereotypes, to raise awareness and educate the public and professionals on this still marginalized reality, to support existing services for men who have experienced sexual assault”. He also wants a more balanced representation of male victims in government policies.
Organizations working with men who have suffered abuse have raised the need for training and to have a space for discussion on the various issues, which would allow members and stakeholders to come together.
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