PETALING JAYA: Sexual harassment against men is about dominance, not attraction, and perpetrators often exploit unequal power to target vulnerable men in certain spaces, experts say.
Survivors report unwanted remarks about masculinity, inappropriate touching, and coercive behaviour as common forms of abuse, according to a human rights organisation.
The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry had previously revealed that more men are coming forward to report sexual harassment, with over 1,000 cases recorded at advocacy counters.
Meanwhile, the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID) Sexual, Women and Child Investigations Division (D11) said male victims were linked to cases involving outrage of modesty, the spread of obscene materials and stalking.
Mental health expert Dr Anasuya Jegathevi Jegathesan said perpetrators target men they believe are unlikely to retaliate.
“Female abusers often target good men who have been taught to respect women and never hit them,” she said, adding that both men and women can harass males.
“They don’t search for abusive men; they search for men who won’t retaliate. It’s a game of power, not attraction.”
She said harassment begins when unwanted attention continues despite rejection or visible discomfort.
“When somebody says no, it’s a no. Don’t pursue it further.”
Anasuya added that harassment can also happen in workplaces or in situations involving unequal power dynamics, including cases involving older women targeting younger men or men harassing other men.
“The intent is about control and superiority over another person.”
She added that many forms of abuse experienced by women can also happen to men, but cases involving male victims are rarely acknowledged.
“I had a case where a man was physically abused by his female partner in the same industry.
“For him to verbalise it, to share it, and not be looked down upon was extremely hard because he’s a man, and men are supposed to be strong,” she said.
Human rights organisation Tenaganita executive director Glorene A. Das said perpetrators use power‑imbalance environments to harass men, such as in workplaces, detention centres, prisons, labour sectors, schools and sports.
“In workplace settings, harassment may come from female and male supervisors, employers, colleagues, clients, or individuals in positions of authority,” she said.
“The few cases that male migrant workers have revealed to us include sexually explicit jokes, unwanted comments about masculinity, inappropriate touching, coercive behaviour, online harassment and repeated unwanted advances.”
Glorene added that perpetrators often act out of humiliation and control, leaving victims with severe emotional impacts such as shame, anxiety, and isolation.
“And many worry they will be disbelieved or fear reporting will make them appear ‘weak’ too.”
