Discourses of (Dis)trust and Hegemonic Masculinity: Service Providers’ Perspectives on the Disclosure Process of Men Who Have Experienced Sexual Violence in Childhood

Abstract

In this article, we explore the discourses of service providers that influence the disclosure process for men who have experienced childhood sexual violence (CHSV). Previous research has shown that it is typical for men to take over a decade to disclose their experiences of CHSV. Disclosing to a service provider can lead to receiving necessary help, yet men who have experienced CHSV often face gendered challenges within the Finnish healthcare system. Several support organizations for sexual violence were contacted using a non-probability sampling technique to recruit participants. The data for this qualitative study were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight service providers who work with male clients. The data were analyzed using critical discourse analysis. Our findings reveal that men typically do not seek help specifically for CHSV; rather, the issue often emerges while discussing other problems. We identified two distinct discourses that affect help-seeking and disclosure of CHSV by male survivors: a) the discourse of (dis)trust, which is closely connected to whether men discuss their traumatic experiences, and b) the discourse of hegemonic masculinities, in which normative masculinities inhibit men from disclosing. We recommend increasing general awareness of CHSV through various campaigns and incorporating sexual violence education into the curricula for healthcare students.