Focus Adolescent Services™

ABUSE: Sexual

Child sexual abuse has been reported between 300,000 to 400,000 times a year, but the number of unreported instances is far greater, because the children are afraid to tell anyone what has happened, and the legal procedure for validating an episode is difficult.

Sexual abuse includes fondling a child’s genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism, and commercial exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials.

Many experts believe that sexual abuse is the most under-reported form of child maltreatment because of the secrecy or "conspiracy of silence" that so often characterizes these cases.

Child sexual abuse can take place within the family, by a parent, step-parent, sibling or other relative; or outside the home, for example, by a friend, neighbor, child care person, teacher, or stranger.  When sexual abuse has occurred, a child can develop a variety of distressing feelings, thoughts and behaviors.

No child is psychologically prepared to cope with repeated sexual stimulation.  Even a two- or three-year-old, who cannot know the sexual activity is "wrong," will develop problems resulting from the inability to cope with the over-stimulation and emotional deceit.

The child of five or older who knows and cares for the abuser becomes trapped between affection or loyalty for the person, and the sense that the sexual activities are terribly wrong.  If the child tries to break away from the sexual relationship, the abuser may threaten the child with violence or loss of love.

When sexual abuse occurs within the family, the child may fear the anger, jealousy or shame of other family members, or be afraid the family will break up if the secret is told.

A child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse usually develops low self-esteem, a feeling of worthlessness and an abnormal or distorted view of sex. The child may become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults, and can become suicidal.  Personality disorders, such as Dissociative Identity Disorder (also known as Multiple Personality Disorder) have been linked to sexual abuse.

Some children who have been sexually abused have difficulty relating to others except on sexual terms.  Some sexually abused children become child abusers or prostitutes, or have other serious problems when they reach adulthood.

Often there are no obvious physical signs of child sexual abuse.  Some signs can only be detected on physical exam by a physician.

Sexually abused children may develop the following:

• unusual interest in or avoidance of all things of a sexual nature

• sleep problems or nightmares

• depression or withdrawal from friends or family

• seductiveness

• statements that their bodies are dirty or damaged, or fear that there is something wrong with them in the genital area

• eating disorders

• self-injury

• refusal to go to school

• delinquency

• conduct problems

• secretiveness

• running away

• aspects of sexual molestation in drawings, games, fantasies

• unusual aggressiveness

• suicidal behavior

Among the findings of a study titled The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the U.S., Canada and Mexico:

More Information on Sexual Abuse

• Adult-Child Sex:  Is It Abuse or Misuse? ~ If we diminish the term "abuse" and do not hold adults accountable, don't we send the clear message to children that they are responsible?  If we even casually suggest that a child is responsible for adult-child sex because of some "initiated" inappropriate behavior, are we not alleviating adults of the responsibility to be the protectors and guardians who guide children toward healthy development?

• Adult Manifestations of Childhood Sexual Abuse ~ The common symptoms of childhood sexual abuse include addiction, depression, anxiety, obesity, eating disorders, physical presentations such as chronic back pain, and self-injury (a coping mechanism used for protection during the abuse or later to guard against feelings of overwhelming helplessness and terror).

• Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: What Do We Know and What Do We Do About It? ~ The commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is sexual abuse of a minor for economic gain.  It involves physical abuse, pornography, prostitution, and the smuggling of children of children for criminal purposes.  This report by the National Institute of Justice explores research into the organization of CSEC, the effects of CSEC on victims, and what measures are being taken and can be taken in the future to prevent its occurrence.

• Common Beliefs About Incest ~ As with sexual assault in general, there are a number of pervasive beliefs about incest and child sexual assault.  Many of these beliefs are myths.

• Dirty Secrets:  Why Sexually Abusive Teachers Aren't Stopped ~ This series of articles uncovers the pervasive problem of sexually abusive teachers, examines their activities and discusses how to plug the holes in the system that allows the molesters to circulate throughout the country.

• How Can Megan's Law Help? ~ Megan's Law can help individuals in communities to be proactive by taking necessary precautions to protect themselves and their children from known high risk resident sex offenders. The law can also assists law enforcement agencies by providing detailed information regarding previously convicted sex offenders to be utilized for investigative purposes.

• How Prostitution Works ~ The sex industry ultimately is about power -- the industry takes great care to ensure that those it uses are powerless. The predators are neither irrational nor stupid.  They watch carefully for a kind of "victim profile," especially children and teens who have already experienced any type of abuse.

• Human Trafficking and Modern-Day Slavery ~ Country by country reports of human trafficking, including commercial sex exploitation.

• Let's Fight This Terrible Crime Against Our Children ~ Child pornography is a multi-victim crime and a multibillion-dollar business.  It is also a war against humanity.  Andrew Vachss tells us what we can do to stop this monstrous evil.

• Pandora's Box:  The Secrecy of Child Sexual Abuse ~ Large site with links to research, articles, and legal information, including sexual abuse laws.

• Pedophile Organizations ~ These organizations argue that laws prohibiting sexual relations with children are based on mistaken notions that such relations are harmful to children.  They argue that sex with kids is healthy and beneficial for them.  They deny, however, that their members practice sex with children.

• Pornography is a Civil Rights Issue ~ Feminist Andrea Dworkin's impassioned testimony before the Attorney General's Commission on Pornography.

• Pornography Plague ~ Pornography does not only hurt the victim, but also has damaging effects on the user.  These include: a comparison mentality, a performance-based sexuality, a feeling that only forbidden things are sexually satisfying, increased guilt, decreased self concept, and obsessive  thinking.

• Prosecuting Sex Crimes, Child Abuse, and Computer Crimes ~ Comprehensive review of the statutes and appellate decisions that govern sex crimes and child abuse.

• Recovered Memories of Sexual Abuse ~ Comprehensive presentation by Dr. Jim Hopper of research, statistics and theories on amnesia, repression, and delayed recall of sexual abuse.

• Ritual Abuse of Children ~ There have been growing concerns over an abhorrent type of child abuse - "satanic, ritual or sadistic abuse."  Many police forces and psychiatrists are taking these allegations seriously.

• Sexual Abuse of Males ~ Prevalence, possible lasting effects, and resources.

• Sibling Sexual Abuse:  A Parent's Guide ~ This booklet is written for parents who know or suspect there is sibling abuse in their family and want to do something about it, and for parents who want to understand and prevent sibling sexual abuse in their family.

• Taking Ritual Abuse Concerns to the Public: Reality and Perception in the Media ~ Ritual abuse consists of traumatizing procedures that are conducted in a circumscribed or ceremonial manner.  Ritual abuse may occur in a group setting, but occasionally it is perpetrated by an individual.

• Testimony of Andrew Vachss before the United States National Commission on Libraries and Information Science ~ How to protect children using public access Internet terminals in libraries from predatory pedophiles -- while simultaneously preserving our First Amendment freedoms and respecting the library community's traditional aversion to censorship.

• Unacceptable Risk: Child Sexual Abuse and AIDS ~ These letters from an incarcerated abuser show a typical pedophile's frightening point of view.

• Understanding Sibling Incest ~ Even though sibling offenders may be viewed as having suffered from abuse themselves prior to their abusing, the sibling abuse they inflict may stem from their own unmet needs more than from the fact of having been abused themselves.

The Wounded Heart is an intensely personal and specific  look at the most "soul deadening" form of abuse -- sexual abuse.  It is personal because it may be affecting you, your spouse, your child, a relative, a close friend or neighbor.  And specific because it helps lead victims away from rage, fear, and confusion with strategies for families, friends and counselors to help in the healing process.

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