{"id":9832,"date":"2026-01-16T14:53:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T14:53:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mytalkindia.com\/?p=9832"},"modified":"2026-03-17T18:35:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T18:35:26","slug":"male-child-sexual-abuse-harish-iyer-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mytalkindia.com\/hi\/male-child-sexual-abuse-harish-iyer-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Harish Iyer on Male Child Sexual Abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Male child sexual abuse is often hidden behind silence, stigma, and societal expectations. Many boys grow up carrying trauma they never speak about. This is one such story a journey from pain to power.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Male Child Sexual Abuse: A Story of Silence and Courage<\/h2>

It started when he was 7.
It ended when he was 18.
It started with a boy.
It ended with a man.
It started with pain.
It ended with courage.<\/p>

The Beginning of the Abuse<\/h3>

In many traditional Indian households, elders bathing young boys is seen as normal. Harish Iyer\u2019s mother believed the same and allowed the practice. That was when it first happened.<\/p>

The first time he was abused, he did not understand what was happening.<\/p>

\u201cI didn\u2019t know whether it was okay, whether it was normal,\u201d he recalls.<\/p>

What began as confusion slowly became routine. He would walk into his uncle\u2019s house, lie down on the bed, and silently wait for it to \u201cget over as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>

But it didn\u2019t stop there.<\/p>

When he was 12, others began violating him too. He chose silence.<\/p>

\u201cI would keep quiet\u2026 because what if I wasn\u2019t considered \u2018man enough\u2019 to bear pain?\u201d<\/p>

The Psychological Impact of Male Child Sexual Abuse<\/p>

Male child sexual abuse leaves scars that are not always visible.<\/p>

He grew up with shattered self-esteem.
He grew up fearing men.
He grew up bathing four times a day.<\/p>

Even today, he bathes four times daily\u00a0 a trauma response that stayed with him.<\/p>

Long-Term Emotional Effects<\/h3>

He divided his life into two separate worlds: one where the abuse existed and one where it did not. When those worlds overlapped, he would break down completely.<\/p>

This is how trauma survives in habits, in fear, in silence.<\/p>

When Speaking Up Changes Nothing<\/h3>

Eventually, he tried to speak up.<\/p>

\u201cI am bleeding from my anus,\u201d he told his mother.
\u201cMaybe it\u2019s because you eat too many mangoes,\u201d she replied.<\/p>

\u201cI am bleeding from my anus,\u201d he told a classmate.
\u201cThese things happen,\u201d came the response.<\/p>

\u201cUncle touches me here and there, and I don\u2019t like it,\u201d he said.
\u201cDon\u2019t go near him,\u201d his mother answered.<\/p>

There was no protection. No confrontation. No intervention.<\/p>

The Stigma Around Male Survivors<\/h3>

Society often expects boys to be strong and silent. Admitting abuse is seen as weakness. This stigma keeps male child sexual abuse hidden for years.<\/p>

He withdrew into isolation. He spoke only to his dog. He found comfort in his garden talking to bees, insects, and trees. Bollywood films became his refuge.<\/p>

\u201cWatching Sridevi stand up for herself in Chaalbaz<\/em> and Lamhe<\/em> inspired me,\u201d he says.<\/p>

Sometimes, even small sources of strength can plant the seed of courage.<\/p>

Finding the Strength to Say No<\/h3>

One day, he decided it would end.<\/p>

He gathered every ounce of courage and said a powerful \u201cNO.\u201d<\/p>

The uncle stopped. Dressed. Left.<\/p>

That moment changed everything.<\/p>

It was not just resistance it was reclaiming control.<\/p>

From Survivor to Advocate<\/h3>

Today, he is an influential equal rights activist who speaks openly about male child sexual abuse<\/a> and the silence surrounding male survivors.<\/p>

\u201cWe get abused, but we have no right to voice it because we’re supposed to be the protectors. The victims of masculinity are men themselves.\u201d<\/p>

For years, he believed the abuse had defined him. It devastated him. Today, he knows that abuse does not determine identity.<\/p>

At the time, there was limited legal recognition for male victims. Justice was not easily available.<\/p>

But he chose not to let hatred consume him.<\/p>

\u201cI can never get those 11 years back, but I have a lifetime ahead of me to protect the rights of children, women, and the LGBTQIA+ community. That\u2019s the path I\u2019ve proudly chosen.\u201d<\/p>

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Frequently Asked Questions :<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t 1. Can boys be victims of child sexual abuse? <\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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M<\/span>ale child sexual abuse<\/span> is a serious and often overlooked issue. Boys can also be victims, but their cases frequently go unreported due to stigma, fear, and societal expectations that boys should be \u201cstrong\u201d and silent. Male child sexual abuse is never the child\u2019s fault, and every survivor deserves support and protection.<\/span>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t 2. What are the psychological effects of male child sexual abuse? <\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Male child sexual abuse can lead to long-term emotional and psychological effects such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, fear of intimacy, trauma responses, and difficulty trusting others. Many survivors struggle silently for years before speaking up.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t 3. Why do many male survivors stay silent? <\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Many male survivors stay silent because of shame, fear of not being believed, and social pressure around masculinity. Society often expects boys to endure pain without complaint, which makes it harder for them to report abuse or seek help.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t