Book Review: Out of the Shadows - Help For Men Who Have Been Sexually Assaulted
| DOI | 10.1177/026455050204900223 |
| Date | 01 June 2002 |
| Published date | 01 June 2002 |
| Author | Mike Head |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
176
viewpoint and those of us involved with
working with victims of crime. We all
have a lot to learn, and it helps if we can
learn from each other. Jo Mead
Senior Probation Officer,
Lincoln
Out of the Shadows – Help For
Men Who Have Been Sexually
Assaulted
Sarah Scott
Russell House Publishing, 2001;
pp80; £9.95, pbk
ISBN 1-89892498-8
Sitting in frustration with a group of men
all of whom seem to be separated from
their emotions, is the common experience
of those who work with the sexually
abused. The work is exacting.
Encouragement to give expression to
feelings is met with hardened resistance.
Imagine a life, where feelings, with
the exception of anger and perhaps rage,
are automatically closed down. It is not a
welcome prospect. Clogged up emotional
arteries seriously affect our sense of well
being, never mind our mental health.
There are of course many other
consequences for men who have been
sexually abused. Enabling a man to
understand the source of his confusion
and unhappiness is diffficult work.
Cutting through the ideas men have about
themselves, and asking them to visit their
shame and to talk about their fears
requires belief, trust and a strong nerve
amongst all involved in the process.
Why should a man want to confront
the secret concerns he has had about
himself maybe for many years? He can
be re-assured that the journey will be
worthwhile in the end. He can be told that
it might help with his panic attacks, his
depressive episodes, and that it might
assist him with his anger. He can be
persuaded that assertiveness really does
make life easier. If he is a sexual offender
himself he might be relieved to know that
it will assist him in bringing such
behaviour to a close. He will need though
to know that his plight is understood, and
that he does not have to regard himself as
being unique and isolated with his
problem. Moving him from a seemingly
stuck position to a place where he can
emote requires a skill that many of us
constantly seek to develop.
‘Out of the Shadows’ has been written
specifically to offer help for men who
have been sexually abused. Men in
individual or group work treatment can
read it. It can be read to inform choices
where men are considering treatment
options. It should be read by anyone
wanting to enter sex-offending work.
This is a skilfully crafted piece of
work. The writing is clear, coherent and
accessible. The approach is unflinching.
All forms of the abuse of men are outlined
and care is taken to capture the attendant
emotional and behavioural consequence.
The underlying message is that recovery
and survival is both possible and
necessary, with due acknowledgement that
men who attempt to grapple with the
matter should be encouraged at every
stage.
The book is divided into five sections.
To continue reading
Request your trial