Unseen and Unequal:

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) refer to a variety of traumatic events faced early in life, such as abuse, neglect, or dysfunctional family patterns.Extensive research identifies ACEs as important predictors of long-term physical, emotional, and psychological health problems.Over and beyond their health effects, ACEs significantly influence personality development, emotional regulation, and relationship skills throughout a person's life.Although the impact of ACEs is well established, studies on gender differences remain limited.This comprehensive review combines current findings to examine the relationship between ACEs and gender.It looks at how common these experiences are, their types, and coping strategies across genders.Additionally, it investigates gender differences in access to social support.The review also considers how cultural norms shape gendered experiences and perceptions of childhood adversity.Understanding the gender-specific aspects of ACEs is essential for developing targeted prevention methods and improving trauma-informed care.This review emphasizes the urgent need for models that include gender perspectives when analyzing the lasting effects of ACEs.