The Development of Sexual Identity among Men Sexually Abused as Children

Abstract

Men who were sexually abused in childhood often struggle with their sexual identity. Through in-depth life-history interviews, the authors present the thoughts, feelings, and misgivings of three men who were sexually abused as children and who tried to come to terms with their sexual identity. The abuse probably did not affect the sexual orientation of two of the subjects, but a third has been unsure of his sexual identity since his abuse experience.