Child Abuse
Facts About Child Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse is a widespread problem in our society. Understandably, parents are concerned. This is the first in a series of articles that will help you understand what child sexual abuse is, how you can protect your children, and how you can teach your children personal safety skills.
What Is Child Sexual Abuse?
Child sexual abuse is the use of a child for sexual purposes by an adult or older, more powerful person, including an older child. It is a crime in all 50 states.
It is called incest when it happens between family members. An incest offender can be a father, mother, stepparent, sibling, or other family member.
Is It a Big Problem?
Studies suggest that roughly 1 out of every 5 American women and 1 out of every 10–20 American men experienced some form of sexual abuse when they were young.
Who Are the Offenders?
Most sexual abuse is committed by a person a child knows and trusts. Studies show that for every 10 cases, between 7 and 9 are committed by someone the victim knows. Most often the abuse is committed by family members and relatives, but it may also be perpetrated by friends of the family and other people who have access to children, including coaches and religious and youth leaders.
In most sexual offenses against children, the offender takes advantage of his or her position or relationship with the child. Offenders work to develop trusting relationships with children.
Most studies indicate that among reported offenders, at least 9 out of 10 are male.
Between 3 and 5 of every 10 offenders are under 18.
Offenders come from all walks of life and from all social and ethnic groups.
Are Both Boys and Girls at Risk?
Sexual abuse happens to boys and girls of any age from infancy to 18 years.
Young children are especially at risk. Reports indicate that a third to half of child sexual abuse victims are under the age of 7 when the abuse begins.
Child sexual abuse happens to children from all walks of life and from all social and ethnic groups. No group of children is exempt.
Do Children Tell Others About Abuse?
Studies have shown that for every 10 victims, only between 2 and 4 tell someone at the time of the incident(s), and that for every 100 cases, only between 6 and 12 are reported to authorities.
Why Don’t They Tell?
There are many reasons why children do not tell. Some common reasons are:
- They have been taught to obey adults.
- They have promised to keep the abuse secret.
- They have been bribed to keep it a secret.
- They have been threatened by the offender to keep it a secret and are scared to tell.
- They feel guilty because they may believe that the abuse is their fault.
- They are ashamed to tell.
- They may be confused because the offender is someone they know and trust.
- They have been convinced that the abuse is normal or okay.
- They are too young to know that the touching isn't appropriate-especially if it's done by someone they know and trust.
- They don't know the words to use to tell.
Children rarely lie about sexual abuse. More often, they are afraid to tell.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help protect your child.
- Educate yourself about sexual abuse.
- Learn and practice specific guidelines for protecting children from sexual abuse.
- Talk to your children about touching safety.
- Teach your children some personal safety rules even before they reach school age.
- Advocate for your children's schools to teach a personal safety curriculum.
Program Developer
Committee for Children
References
Finkelhor, D. (1994). "Current Information on the Scope and Nature of Child Sexual Abuse to Children." The Future of Children, 4(2), 31-53.
Gomes-Schwartz, B., Horowitz, J., and Cardarelli, A. (1990). Child Sexual Abuse. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Jones, D. P. H., and McGraw, J. M. (1987). "Reliable and Fictitious Accounts of Sexual Abuse." Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2(1), 27-45.
Myers, J. E. B., Berliner, L., Briere, J., Hendrix, C. T., Jenny, C., and Reid, T. (Eds.) (2001). The APSAC Handbook on Child Maltreatment. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
The National Resource Center on Child Sexual Abuse (1994). "Fact Sheet on Child Sexual Abuse." Huntsville, AL: NRCCSA.
Wurtele, S. K., and Miller-Perrin, C. L. (1992). Preventing Child Sexual Abuse: Sharing the Responsibility. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.