Characteristics and Impacts of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence against Men in the DRC: A Phenomenological Research Design

Ines Yagi, Judith Malette, Timothee Mwindo and Buuma Maisha
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Ines Yagi: School of Counselling, Psychotherapy and Spirituality, Saint Paul University, Ottawa, ON K1S 1C4, Canada
Judith Malette: School of Counselling, Psychotherapy and Spirituality, Saint Paul University, Ottawa, ON K1S 1C4, Canada
Timothee Mwindo: Faculty of Clinical Psychology, Université Évangélique en Afrique, Bukavu 3323, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Buuma Maisha: School of Counselling, Psychotherapy and Spirituality, Saint Paul University, Ottawa, ON K1S 1C4, Canada

Social Sciences, 2022, vol. 11, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: There is increased evidence of the existence of sexual violence against men and boys in many war-stricken areas. Yet, there are still discrepancies in understanding male victims’ experience in depth. Furthermore, limited research on sexual violence against men in the context of the war in the Eastern Region of the Congo has been undertaken to date. As part of addressing this knowledge gap, a phenomenological study was conducted to shed light and understand the experience of male survivors of sexual violence. The participants were males who experienced sexual violence in the war. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. The findings show that participants experienced a wide range of psychological and physical wounds other than rape. Their experience during the event (s) falls under the umbrella term gender-based violence (GBV) which encompasses other forms of harmful acts against one’s will including sexual assault, genital mutilation, acts of penetration with different objects, and cultural inappropriate actions with intention to sexually harass and humiliate. The results show a wide and complex range of short and long-term impact on multiple levels. The findings add clarification and understanding to the controversial and taboo subject around conflict-related sexual violence against men in the Congo. They shed light on how the understanding of gender impacts participants’ masculine identity, their sexual victimization experience, and healing journey.

Keywords: masculinity; conflict-related sexual violence; gender; male victims; consequences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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