Sexual Abuse of Children

Sexual Abuse of Children

Sexual Abuse of Children

Issues

Child abuse is a socially defined construct; as such, it does not lend itself to an easy definition. It is a highly controversial and complex concept, subject to constant change that is influenced by a range of political and cultural factors. Historically, the highly publicized case of the abuse of a young girl named Mary Ellen Wilson led to a public outcry resulting in the foundation of the Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty to Children in 1874, which ultimately initiated dramatic changes in society's treatment of children.

However, it was not until 1974 when formal legislation was passed in North America that clearly defined a mandate for the reporting of physical child abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and physical neglect. (Ferrara 2002)

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse occurs when a person uses power over a child and involves the child in any sexual act. The abuser is more powerful because of age, intelligence, physical strength, or control over the child. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative and non penetrative acts, or noncontact activities such as allowing children to watch pornography, involving a child in pornography or prostitution, and/or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

Most children who are sexually abused are between the ages of 9-11, with girls being more likely to be abused than boys. However, the abuse of boys is often underestimated. Children with a disability are at almost double the risk of sexual abuse, with the risk increasing further when children are living in some sort of residential treatment center.

The age of perpetrators of child sexual abuse varies widely. Most sexual offenders develop deviant sexual interests prior to 18 years of age. The majority of perpetrators are male, representing all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic groups. Although a minority of women have been identified as perpetrators, this phenomenon may be more common than data suggest due to lack of reporting. Most sexual offenders of children are known to their victims. However, rather than being family members, it is more likely that these individuals are outside the family sphere, such as friends or neighbors. Childhood sexual victimization also contributes to adult perpetration. Perpetrators may have experienced abuse directly in the past themselves, or they may have observed or been aware of the abuse of other family members. In addition, perpetrators of sexual abuse often lack the necessary social skills and interpersonal intimacy required for the development of empathy, possibly contributing to sexually abusive behavior.

Families with children who are sexually abused demonstrate significant levels of dysfunction; they are the least cohesive and the most disorganized. Frequently, one or both parents are involved in drug and alcohol abuse and possibly criminal behavior. There is often marital conflict, domestic violence, and divorce among these families. Mothers of sexually abused children are most likely to be co-conspirators rather than co-victims.

There is some evidence that mothers in incestuous families have childhood histories of sexual abuse in addition to being physically and emotionally abused by their children's perpetrators. Mothers who have been sexually abused in the past may gravitate toward men who are similar to their own abusers, or who do not make sexual demands on them because the men are sexually attracted to children. As well, maternal employment outside the home, maternal disability, or illness also is known risk factors ...