Alarming figures

Every tenth boy is a victim of sexualized violence

Male victims of violence are often neither believed nor listened to. In stereotypical gender roles, they tend to be seen as perpetrators.

(Bild: Katarzyna Bialasiewicz Photographee.eu)

According to estimates, around one in ten boys in Austria is a victim of sexualized violence by the age of 18. Despite this alarmingly high figure and the serious impact these assaults have on the lives of those affected, the topic remains taboo. 

The Vienna Men's Counseling Service identifies the stereotypical gender roles and images of masculinity as a key reason for this "looking the other way". Society tends to view boys and men as perpetrators, while they often go unnoticed as victims.

A quarter of sexual violence comes from women
People often look the other way when the perpetrators are women. Here too, stereotypical perpetrator-victim relationships mean that these assaults often remain hidden or the victims are not believed. According to studies, around a quarter of sexual violence is perpetrated by women. 

The psychological consequences of violence include various and sometimes massive long-term effects such as complex post-traumatic stress disorder.

Hubert Steger, Klinischer Psychologe

Victims are often not listened to
Boys and young men who have been subjected to sexualized violence often try to talk about their experiences or seek help. However, they are often not listened to. Some end up in the help system because of their behaviour, but the topic of sexualized violence is often not addressed.

60 percent of former male children in institutions are victims of violence
Sexual assaults in institutions such as homes, schools or kindergartens are better documented. For example, the 2018 Vienna Children's Home Study shows that over 60 percent of former male children in institutions were victims of violence, including sexual abuse. Estimates from the dark field are even higher.