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Male Sexual Abuse Topic of Movie, Awareness Campaign Coming To Athens
< < Back to male-sexual-abuse-topic-movie-awareness-campaign-coming-athensScreenings Across Ohio – Part of a National Awareness Raising Campaign Organized by Malesurvivor.org ‘Dare to Dream: Join the Journey’
On Thursday April 17, WOUB Public Media and the Scripps College of Communication will host a screening of Boys and Men Healing, a leading documentary produced by Big Voice Pictures about the effects of male child sexual abuse and the importance of healing, speaking out, and advocating for ending the cycle of the sexual abuse of boys. The presentation will be held at the Athens Community Center on East State Street from 7 – 9:30 p.m. and will include the movie, survivor presentations and open discussion. The events are free and open to the public.
The program will consist of screening the movie and then a panel discussion with Dr. Howard Fradkin, MaleSurvivor co-founder, Advisory Board member and nationally known psychologist; and sexual abuse survivors. Tom Hodson, director and general manager of WOUB Public Media, will moderate the panel.
Dr. Fradkin also is the noted author of the newest self-help book on the topic, Joining Forces: Empowering Male Survivors to Thrive.
Boys and Men Healing is a film from director and producer Kathy Barbini, and co-producer Simon Weinberg of Big Voice Pictures. The film digs deep into the impact of male sexual abuse on both individuals and society and highlights the importance of male survivors healing and speaking out for the well-being of families and communities.
Featuring non-offending men, this film shows the profound effects of boyhood sexual abuse – shame, intimacy problems, sexual identity confusion, post-traumatic stress, substance abuse, addictions and unresolved rage. Despite such devastating effects, each man ultimately chose the arduous task of healing. Through counseling, support groups and prevention advocacy, each man is a testimony of hope and the ability for survivors to thrive.
In addition to the general public, College of Communication students are invited to learn how better to cover sexual abuse stories in the media and the sensitivities involved in communication about this important topic. Ohio University students are encouraged to participate regardless of college affiliation.
Locally, the program is being co-sponsored by Survivor Advocacy Program at Ohio University, Shepherd’s House – a domestic violence shelter, Hopewell Health Centers, Division of Student Affairs • Office of the Dean of Students and Athens County Childrens Services.
The showing is part of three days of programming around Ohio – including Columbus and Mason. The national program is being sponsored by MaleSurvivor, the leading Internet resource committed to preventing, healing and eliminating all forms of sexual victimization of boys and men through support, treatment, research, education, advocacy and activism.
Statewide support comes from the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, Ohio Men’s Action Network, Office of Criminal Justice Services, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention Program, Ohio Department of Health and Justice League of Ohio.