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Eric Rivas About Eric Rivas

Eric joined Saprea at the end of 2021 as the SEO/Web Analyst. He received a BS in marketing, a Professional Sales Certificate, and an AS in university studies from Utah Valley University, where he is currently enrolled in the MBA program. Before making the jump to the nonprofit sector, he worked in start-up, agency, and corporate marketing positions. In his free time he enjoys traveling with his wife, reading, and volunteering in the community.

Male Sexual Abuse

Posted on January 26, 2024 - 9:57 am by
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Male Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, or faith. Males who have been sexually abused may experience similar feelings and symptoms as other survivors, however because of social stigmas, there are often extra challenges to disclosure and seeking help.

Definition of Male Sexual Abuse:

Because laws vary from one location to another, there’s not a universal definition of male sexual abuse. However, at Saprea we define male sexual abuse as any situation where another person (adult or peer) forces or coerces a male into unwanted sexual activity that may or may not involve touch.

Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 13 boys in the US experience sexual abuse at some time in their childhood.1 And the American National Center for PTSD states that at least 1 in 10 men in our country will experience sexual assault at some point in their life.2 This means that sexual trauma can occur beyond childhood.

These numbers are worrisome because male victims often underreport being sexually abused and are also significantly less likely to ever disclose. On average, a male survivor will take longer to disclose sexual abuse than a female survivor, if they disclose at all.3

Stigma

Socialization and attitudes towards trauma have created stigmas and barriers for males to disclose abuse and seek help. Males are socialized not to identify as victims, not ask for help, and suppress emotions. These are seen as feminine practices. Males (consciously or unconsciously) may use shame as a tool to suppress behaviors and feelings associated with femininity. Men are also socialized to believe they always want sex, so when unwanted sexual activity occurs, it can be very confusing to them. There is even an attitude that trauma is “no big deal” as long as they don’t think about it or “let it control” them, they’ll be just fine.

The stigma has gotten so powerful that there is currently a push to replace the term “therapy” with words like consultation, meeting, coaching, or discussion for males just so they are more open to talking about their trauma.

Signs of Child Sexual Abuse

Though everyone is different, there are 3 warning signs of sexual abuse to look for: changes in their behavioral, physical, and/or emotional state.
Behavioral

Isolation, Engaging in risky behavior, Self-Harm, Out of Control Sexual Behaviors, Aggression

Physical

Pain in the genital area, Difficulty urinating, Abdominal pain

Emotional

Shame, Guilt, Powerlessness, Depression

Some of these signs might not be as obvious as others.

Common Symptoms in Adult Male Survivors

Male survivors of sexual abuse may experience a range of symptoms that stem from the trauma they experienced, such as:

Addictions
Anxiety
Communication Issues
Depression
Difficult Relationship with Body
Dissociation
Dysfunctional Relationships
Emotional Numbness
Flashbacks
Loneliness
Triggers
Panic Attacks
Physical Pain
Sexual Intimacy Issues
Shame
Sleep Issues
Unhealthy Behaviors

Resources for Male Survivors

The healing from sexual abuse section of our website offers healing activities such as paced breathing, other grounding techniques, and self-compassion exercises.

The following websites have resources that are tailored specifically toward male survivors:

1in6

1in6 is a nonprofit organization that provides online support groups, trainings, webinars, survivor stories, and resources for male survivors.

MaleSurvivor

MaleSurvivor is a nonprofit organization that provides a directory of therapists who specialize in male sexual trauma, support groups, healing events, and resources for parents and partners of male survivors.

MenHealing

MenHealing is a nonprofit organization that hosts healing retreats, podcasts, survivor stories, and online resources for male survivors.

Survivors and Mates Support Network

Survivors and Mates Support Network is a not-for-profit that provides individual and support counseling, peer support groups, peer support line, workshops, online meetings, and a podcast for male survivors, their families, and supporters.

Living Well

Living Well is an Australian service and resource that provides information, encouragement, and support to men who experienced childhood sexual abuse or adulthood sexual assault.
Crisis Hotline: If you or someone you know is struggling, or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Confidential chat is also available at 988lifeline.org 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Myths and Facts About Male Sexual Abuse

Myth: “It’s not rape if you liked it.”
Fact: Males can experience unwanted or unintentional arousal during a sexual assault. An erection and even ejaculation does not mean the abuse was welcome or enjoyable, as physiological reactions are often automatic responses.
Myth: “It’s okay as long as the male student was attracted to the teacher.”
Fact: Underage students cannot give consent to an adult. Even if a student is of consenting age, the teacher or professor is an authority figure and would be abusing their position of power. Though student-on-student sexual assault is more likely to occur, educator sexual abuse has been a more prominent topic in the media as of late.
Myth: “He’s gay because he was diddled (touched) as a kid.” 
Fact: Sexual abuse does not change nor determine your sexual orientation. About 86% of the time, the perpetrators of male sexual abuse are other males. Contrary to the popular belief that gay men are the perpetrators, the majority of male perpetrators identify as straight.2
Myth: “Males who were sexually abused will go on to become abusers themselves.”
Fact: It is reported that 30% of survivors of child sexual abuse will become perpetrators themselves. However, this risk is significantly reduced if the survivor receives help.
Myth: “A man can’t be raped by a woman.”
Fact: Yes, a man can be raped by a woman. Men can be forced or coerced into sexual activity without consent or against their will. This type of abuse is often underreported.

In conclusion, if you are a male survivor of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, sexual assault, or sexual violence, you are not alone. Seeking help or disclosing abuse DOES NOT make you any “less of a man”. Even if you feel like you weren’t affected that much or at all, it’s okay to take the time to process what happened. You, a male survivor, can work through your traumatic experiences. Healing is possible.

About the Author

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Eric Rivas

SEO/Web Analyst
Eric joined Saprea at the end of 2021 as the SEO/Web Analyst. He received a BS in marketing, a Professional Sales Certificate, and an AS in university studies from Utah Valley University, where he is currently enrolled in the MBA program. Before making the jump to the nonprofit sector, he worked in start-up, agency, and corporate marketing positions. In his free time he enjoys traveling with his wife, reading, and volunteering in the community.

Recent blogs

28188:full
Common Symptoms Experienced by Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
Childhood sexual abuse can have long-lasting debilitating effects throughout the life of a survivor. The impacts of sexual trauma are profound and far-reaching, affecting every aspect of an individual’s life—physically, psychologically, cognitively, and socially. But why is this so?
Read this article
28105:full
Statute of Limitations on Sexual Abuse
In our work with individuals who were sexually abused, they often discuss the burden that comes with weighing difficult questions about when to come forward with details of the abuse they experienced. They wonder if they should take legal action or if that is even an option when the abuse occurred many years in the past.
Read this article
27832:full
Effects of Child Sexual Abuse
As a clinician on the Saprea Clinical Intake team, I am often the first point of contact for anyone seeking one of our services. This gives me the opportunity to talk to many survivors of child sexual abuse. I’m often asked about specific effects of sexual abuse that the women I talk to are experiencing.
Read this article
SEE ALL blogs

What Is a Nonprofit Organization (NPO)?

Posted on March 17, 2023 - 7:00 am by

Saprea > Blog > All Blogs > What Is a Nonprofit Organization (NPO)?

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What Is a Nonprofit Organization (NPO)?

Nonprofit organizations (sometimes referred to as NPOs) often reflect the best of society as they bring employees and volunteers together to work towards a common goal. Oftentimes, these goals are to support basic human needs, social causes, or conservation efforts related to our natural resources. A big difference between a for-profit organization and a nonprofit organization is that a nonprofit does not generate profits for its owners. So, if nonprofits don’t generate profit how do they work?

What Is a Nonprofit and How Does It Work?

A nonprofit organization (NPO) is an organization that typically uses public and/or private donations to fund its philanthropic mission to further a social cause and/or provide a public benefit.1

Every year, over one million children will be sexually abused; that’s one in five children by the time they turn 18. Sadly, survivors experience higher rates of substance abuse, are three times more likely than the general population to attempt suicide, and experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, eating orders, and PTSD. No child should have to endure this trauma.

The estimated economic cost of child sexual abuse totals over $9.3 billion annually in the United States.2

Saprea’s unique purpose as an organization is to provide healing resources for survivors of childhood sexual abuse through in-person retreats, healing webinars, survivor-led sexual abuse support groups, and online resources. We also aim to liberate society from the issue of child sexual abuse by empowering adults, parents, and caregivers to protect the children in their lives and their communities.

What Is the Purpose of a Nonprofit?

A nonprofit organization’s purpose is to further a social cause and/or provide a public benefit by providing services and awareness related to that cause. It may also help facilitate focused fundraising efforts that help target a particular issue.

Founded in 2014, Saprea (formerly The Younique Foundation) helps survivors of child sexual abuse heal from the impacts of trauma and empowers parents and caregivers to reduce the risk of sexual abuse from happening to the children in their lives. Because of the generosity of donors, both private and public, we are able to offer the following resources:

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The Saprea Retreat is a free clinically informed, four-day in-person retreat for adult female survivors of child sexual abuse. The retreat is led by a team of licensed therapists and case managers that help survivors understand the impacts of trauma in the body and the brain. Participants are given opportunities to apply healing tools and build a community of support. The retreat is followed up by an online course.

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The Healing Webinar is a free 4.5-hour interactive and educational online experience for female survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The webinar is led by a clinical therapist who specializes in trauma recovery, along with a co-teacher.

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Saprea Support Groups are available in 11+ countries and offered in four languages. These sexual abuse support groups allow adult female survivors to connect with other survivors in safe spaces in-person or online.

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The healing from sexual abuse section of our website offers a library of clinically researched resources that help survivors understand the effects of child sexual abuse, common symptoms they may experience, and healing practices.

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In order to help adults, parents, and caregivers reduce risk of child sexual abuse and also to recognize and respond to signs of suspected abuse, our research-based sexual abuse prevention resources exist. This library of resources provides adults with practical prevention tools like teaching consent, boundaries, and sexual development at all ages.

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Finally, Saprea offers community education classes where volunteers can be trained to teach prevention classes in their communities. These classes include topics such as consent, healthy sexuality, and reducing the risk of child sexual abuse.

How Does a Nonprofit Make Money?

Technically, a nonprofit doesn’t make money. A nonprofit raises funds through public donations, private donations, grants, memberships, and selling products. For-profit organizations sell products and/or services which then compensate the owners and shareholders with the earnings. In contrast, all funds generated by a nonprofit organization are then invested back into the organization to continue advocating for causes the organization supports. These funds can be used to keep running the services they offer.

Saprea accepts public and private donations, grants, and we even have a store with merchandise that goes to supporting survivors of child sexual abuse. A couple of times a year, we host fundraising events either in Utah and/or Georgia where we invite community leaders and ask for their financial support to help survivors heal and equip parents with the tools they need to protect their children.

Donating to Nonprofit Organizations

Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organizations.3 These charitable organizations can receive donations from the public that are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.

Because Saprea is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, your donations (whether public or private) are tax deductible. For transparency purposes, we publish our annual report that shows statements, tax returns, and our SAS 114 letter.

Year after year, Saprea receives GuideStar’s Platinum Seal of Transparency. This award puts us in the Top 1% of nonprofits in the United States for transparency.

According to Charity Navigator a nonprofit’s cost ratio should be 65/35, meaning that 65% of a nonprofit’s budget should go to programs and 35% should go to overhead. At Saprea, our cost ratios come in at 78/22, exceeding industry standards. This means that 78 cents of every dollar go directly to programs and 22% goes to overhead.

Since Saprea’s inception in 2014, this is our impact:
  • 4,700 survivors have attended the Saprea Retreat
  • 100+ support groups have launched around the world
  • 9,500+ hours have been put in by volunteers

Not all nonprofits operate with integrity or transparency. Unfortunately, you don’t have to look too far to see news stories over the last couple of years about nonprofit organizations (churches, tax havens, etc.) abusing donor contributions. It’s important to donate to NPOs that are transparent and use donations efficiently. We as an organization stress the importance of transparency and treating funds with respect.

If you’d like to chip in once or monthly to Saprea to help survivors of childhood sexual abuse heal from trauma and empower parents to protect their children, please consider donating.

About the author

Image

Eric Rivas

SEO/Web Analyst
Eric joined Saprea at the end of 2021 as the SEO/Web Analyst. He received a BS in marketing, a Professional Sales Certificate, and an AS in university studies from Utah Valley University, where he is currently enrolled in the MBA program. Before making the jump to the nonprofit sector, he worked in start-up, agency, and corporate marketing positions. In his free time he enjoys traveling with his wife, reading, and volunteering in the community.

Recent blogs

28188:full
Common Symptoms Experienced by Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
Childhood sexual abuse can have long-lasting debilitating effects throughout the life of a survivor. The impacts of sexual trauma are profound and far-reaching, affecting every aspect of an individual’s life—physically, psychologically, cognitively, and socially. But why is this so?
Read this article
28105:full
Statute of Limitations on Sexual Abuse
In our work with individuals who were sexually abused, they often discuss the burden that comes with weighing difficult questions about when to come forward with details of the abuse they experienced. They wonder if they should take legal action or if that is even an option when the abuse occurred many years in the past.
Read this article
27832:full
Effects of Child Sexual Abuse
As a clinician on the Saprea Clinical Intake team, I am often the first point of contact for anyone seeking one of our services. This gives me the opportunity to talk to many survivors of child sexual abuse. I’m often asked about specific effects of sexual abuse that the women I talk to are experiencing.
Read this article
SEE ALL blogs