Echoes: The Stories of Male Survivors Overcoming Sexual Trauma

Marshall Jr. draws from his own experience as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse to discuss the stigma, shame, guilt, and isolation that many male survivors experience, particularly those from underserved and urban communities. He explains that many men do not recognize or report their experiences as abuse because of cultural expectations surrounding masculinity and the normalization of sexual experiences involving boys. His work through the Survivor Circle focuses on humanizing survivors’ experiences, creating safe spaces where men can share their stories, and empowering families and communities to support them. Marshall also connects unresolved sexual trauma to broader issues such as depression, substance use, suicide, incarceration, and other systemic challenges. Overall, he argues that male sexual abuse must be recognized as a societal issue and that giving survivors the opportunity to speak, heal, and reclaim their experiences can contribute to healing families and communities.