KUCHING: Child abuse cases are more prevalent in boys than girls globally and gender stereotypes have obstructed them from voicing out.
Kimberly Tan of Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS) said the hackneyed idea of ‘Boys or men should not cry’ has made it difficult for boys or men to speak up on issues related to mental health, sexual harassment, abuse or assault.
“It builds the entire mountain of challenges for boys and men to confess about what is happening to them.
“The idea of men should not cry has been implemented or ingrained in our community at a very young age, so even before they can have some kind of support, they are already shamed for their trauma,“ she said.
Stereotypes surrounding male survivors of sexual harassment is the contributing factor to males feeling pressured in coming forward to share their stories.
Emphasising the body’s physiological responses, she said, “when we talk about cases like rape for men or boys, ejaculation does not mean they wanted it.
“So, I would like to remind everyone that it should not and should never be a reason why you think that the survivor deserves it.”
She expressed her delight in the tabulation of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill which has passed the third stage in the Parliament in July 2022.
“We have been waiting for this bill (since) since 20 years ago, it’s finally materialising and we cannot be more excited about this.
“Hopefully, this year, something good will come out of it,” she said.
Tan was one of the invited guest speakers for the Unspoken Soul Sexual Harassment Awareness Campaign organised by Faculty of Language and Communication, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).
The campaign was organised to raise awareness about sexual harassment cases in campus and to highlight equal threats among both males and females who encounter such incidents.
An exhibition on sexual harassment awareness is also be carried out at the lobby of the Faculty of Language and Communication.
