Don't forget the male victims of abuse CMAJ 1998;158:303 The article "Responding to our abused patients" (CMAJ 1997;157(11):1539-40 [full text / résumé]), by Dr. Barbara Lent, was both thoughtful and thought provoking. In many articles and editorials concerning abuse, there is an implicit assumption that the victims are women and girls and that the perpetrators are men. However, boys are also victims of abuse, and they too carry their scars into adulthood.1 In addition, women are also perpetrators of abuse.2 The concept of male victims and male survivors of abuse is difficult for many to grasp because the stereotype that categorizes men as strong and silent is alive and well. This myth only serves to perpetuate the difficulty men have in seeking the help they need. Abuse is a very real issue, and there is little doubt that women carry the greatest burden. However, the ability to abuse and the chances of becoming a victim are not gender specific, and they cross all religious, social and economic boundaries. We have come a long way in recognizing female victims of abuse, but much remains to be done. For male victims of abuse, we are only beginning to recognize the problem. Carl Wiebe, MD Hamiota District Health Centre Hamiota, Man. wiebec@cc.umanitoba.ca References Lew M. Victims no longer: men recovering from incest and other childhood sexual abuse. New York: Harper Collins Publishers; 1988. Elliott M. Female sexual abuse of children. New York: Guilford Press; 1994. Send a letter to the editor responding to this letter Envoyez une lettre à la rédaction au sujet de cette lettre | CMAJ February 10, 1998 (vol 158, no 3) / JAMC le 10 février 1998 (vol 158, no 3) |