1 in 6

Researchers have stated one in 6 men are victims of sexual assault before the age of 16 (1 in 6.org). Such statistics are low since they do not include men who have had noncontact experiences that might be as damaging. Rather than getting into a research-methodology based debate, which is important, it is more important to remember that these statistics represent real people. Real people with real experiences who live with us and among us.

There are many debates on sexual assault that frame men as perpetrators and women as victims; but, rarely do we hear of a story of a male who has been sexually abused by a female. Even if such stories are rare to hear about, males who are victims of sexual assault are not rare. Here are a few stories of males from all walks of life who are victims of sexual abuse.

Dominic works as a television journalist. He is a senior political reporter, and the host of Inside City Hall, a show on NY1, and an author of the book, No Mama's Boy. In the book he speaks about his childhood where he was sexually abused by his mother.

Chris is a 20 year old construction worker who was sexually abused by his coach at age 8.

Juan is a 22 year old college student who raped him from ages 8-12.

Mohammed is a 30 year old insurance salesman whose step-father performed oral sex at the age of thirteen.

George is a 56 year old man who is an independent contractor. His minister had introduced him to oral sex and porn at the age of 13.

Jamal is a 27 year old medical student who had three baby sitters who had sexual contact with his from the ages of 6 to 9(http://www.1in6.org/OTHERGUYSLIKEME/GuysThinkingAboutLearningMore/tabid/132/Default.aspx).

These six sentences represent the stories of six men. Six men who were abused as boys at the hands of loved ones and care takers. We should remember that no person's story can be summarized in one sentence. A few words cannot capture the journey of hardships that survivors of sexual abuse have endured. In addition we have not spoken about the family members or the friends who are also impacted.

Therefore one in 6 steps that we can take as CUNY students is to work on spreading information about the CUNY wide prevention based sexual assault policy. In spreading information, students may begin a dialogue on sexual assault, which in turn can begin to create a safe space for men, women, transgender, gays, lesbians, and bisexuals to begin a dialogue. A dialogue that may serve as a piece of the healing process for survivors, their loved ones and family members. More importantly us as a CUNY community, we can say to the famous statistic of 1 in 6 men that we are working on the 1 in 6 steps to counter sexual assault.

Become involved! Email us at cunypolicy08@gmail.com. We currently have an immediate need for:

* A skilled technician with software to make jpeg files to post letters of support on the tracker
* A graphic arts designer to help our website designer
* Skilled media savvy persons to chronicle CUNY's progress for the students on campus blogs, radio and television.
* Organizations and individuals to endorse our cause (willing to sign a letter of support)
* Organizations and individuals to join Students for a Greater CUNY as a member