therapy

So I’ve already written a bit about my own sexual abuse. I’m not going to rehash that here.

I was referred to the Women’s Center at my university, for counseling for sexual abuse. Now I went in to this place having been assured that they do counseling for men. And technically they do.

They follow what they called “feminist counseling” for all their clients. Anyone see red flags yet?

So I walk into this place and see these feminist posters talking about how feminism will heal them. Obviously as a privileged white bisexual male, I can be healed. By the power of denouncing my original sin of patriarchy.

Now I’m really apprehensive, and it took me 10 minutes to get to the point where I could whip up enough courage to talk to the receptionist. The five women in the waiting room looked me up and down, I could feel the daggers. Those are not safe spaces for men. They aren’t. Those women looked at me like I was there stalking someone. What men can’t be sexually abused or assaulted?

Bigots.

So I get up to the receptionist.

Me: Do you have counseling for male abuse victims?

Receptionist: Yes we do! *I feel relieved, she shows me a paper with phone numbers and links* Here is some information on rape services, the number for the police, *flips the paper over* and here’s some information on how to prevent rape.

Me: Ok *very very nervous now*

Receptionist: Do you need us to call the police? *about to start yelling at her*

Me: No.

Receptionist: Do you want to make an appointment?

Me: No, I’ll look this over and get back to you.

I got out of there as quickly as possible. This is the back of the paper they gave me.

This is essentially the only service available for men to get help telling me that I need to carry a rape whistle because I cannot control myself.

Fuck you Women’s Center.

This is what feminism has given us. Men who cannot feel safe in reporting sex crimes, and men who cannot get counseling because women are incapable of being seen as abusive. This is feminism.