Exploring gender beliefs among sexually abused/exploited boys through drama based workshop and individual counseling

Author: Taina Inkeri Gallagher

Date: 28 March, 2007

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Research Thesis by Taina Inkeri Gallagher
This is an exploratory research study which aimed to determine the gender beliefs of a group of seven boys who had been sexually abused and/or exploited. The research design consisted of five drama based workshops along with individual counselling sessions.  This study was conducted in order to help boys (in particular) express themselves in an area which has been for the majority untouched. By allowing the boys to experiment around different themes and issues regarding gender and gender beliefs the hope was to find answers that would inevitably help the success of aftercare and the aftercare needs of sexually abused/ exploited boys.

The intentions of this study were to determine the overall gender beliefs of boys who have been sexually abused and/or exploited, to examine the influences that have formed the boy’s beliefs of gender, to understand the effects sexual abuse and/or exploitation have had on the boy’s gender beliefs and to measure the effectiveness of using drama based workshops in order to draw out the opinions and beliefs of gender.  Many tools were used including, role play, improvisation, dramatized script work, art work, presentation and discussion.

The study took place in The Stairway Foundation in Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. The boys were all of Filipino nationality and were between the ages of 14 -19 years old.  All the subjects who took part in the study had a history of sexual abuse and/or exploitation, spent a long period of time living on the streets of Manila, had come from extreme poverty, broken homes, spent time in and out of institutions and had a history of drug addiction.  

The literature proves the impact of society’s gender based expectations and how interference and trauma from sexual abuse and/or exploitation can severely impact a boy’s view of himself and the community’s perceptions of him.  Sexual orientation, confusion, violence and the transference from victim to victimizer can be seen within boys and men who have been sexually abused. The Literature clearly shows a large gap in the information available concerning the gender beliefs of boys who have been sexually abused or exploited. Drama therapy is a non-threatening, non-direct approach in which children and adolescents can express themselves, their thoughts, their feelings, as well as unreported, undiscovered pain.  

It was clear in the results that the boys’ drew their beliefs from their experiences up until the present.  In the series of drama workshops and counselling sessions the boys stated that men teach boys how to abuse drugs and get gay customers.  They see men as abusers, exploiters and paedophiles, but they believe and recognize that there are some men who are good. The results highlighted that their expectations of men and boy/man relationships were quite low but it seems that their current positive male role models create a hope for change in those expectations. The anger they showed toward homosexual men was apparent.

The group’s expectations on women were both high and low. The results show that the group expected women to be good role models in teaching them right from wrong, educating them and being a mother to them. They also said that women who are raped by men deserve to be raped if they do not fight and speak out against men.  From their own past experiences women had also let them down, abandoned and hurt them therefore they did not show much compassion for the female sex. However, again their beliefs where beginning to change due to the exposure to good female role models at The Stairway Foundation.
From the data it is apparent that the group perceives a boys role/position in society to be first and foremost a street child.  Within a boy’s role as a street child the boy must then take on positions such as a gambler or thief. Another major role was being part of a family (son, brother). They show a need for their past role as street beggar to be acknowledged in society (even though they believe it to be low) and from their experiences within institutions they feel the importance of acknowledgement to social workers and caregivers.

The group’s perceptions and beliefs were split when it came to the effects of child abuse.  One group member stated ‘a boy who has been sexually abused will turn into an abuser himself’ whereas another child disagreed with this statement saying ‘sexually abused boys do not necessarily become abusers themselves’.

The results prove that the boys’ overall gender beliefs were centred around negative beliefs of heterosexual men, homosexual men, and women.  These gender beliefs had been greatly influenced by their up bringing, family, peers, sexual  abuse/exploitation, drugs, time spent on the streets, and time spent in and out of institutions.  The boys’ history of sexual abuse and/or exploitation had hugely effected their beliefs of gender and gender based issues.  The use of drama based workshops proved effective in its approach and outcomes, allowing the group of boys to express past and present feelings and emotions, develop self belief, self expression and self confidence.   

Recommendations include further research on use of drama therapy as an approach to child therapy and counselling, research in the area of sexuality and gender confusion in sexually abused boys, research with a larger amount of subject to determine a wider set of beliefs and research specific to sexually abused boys’ beliefs about men, women and homosexuals.  It was also recommended that staff within aftercare facilities become aware of the boys’ gender based beliefs, experiences and influences, and become aware of the effects of sexual abuse in order to understand that the effects of sexual abuse/exploitation on a boy is different to that of a girl, therefore needing different aftercare interventions and approaches.  There is also a need to investigate and research the correlation between men who were sexually abused as children becoming abusers as adults in order to begin to understand what interventions should take place and how.

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