Only since the late 1970’s has sexual abuse become an important issue in child protection.  Sexual abuse entered the public consciousness mainly because the problem was recognized and the issue championed by the women’s movement and the children’s protective movement.

In 1975, there were 7,000 cases of childhood sexual abuse reported in the United States.  By 1985, there were over 120,000 reported cases.  The increase in reported cases was not due to an increase in sexual abuse, but rather a breakthrough in society’s denial of the problem and a willingness to report the abuse.  In addition, the most frequently reported cases of childhood sexual abuse involved perpetrators who were members of the child’s own family.  As a result, child-welfare professionals have faced the double-difficult challenge of persuading the public that sex abuse occurs (that the children who report abuse should be believed) and that trusted family members might be guilty.

There are many reasons why society has been reluctant to look at the issue of childhood sexual abuse.  To begin with, most sexual abuse is committed by males against females.  Men constitute 95 percent of sexual abuse of girls and 80 percent of the reported cases of sexual abuse of boys.  Since charges of sexual abuse most often incriminate men, sex abuse is a difficult subject for many males to accept.  In addition, since studies on sexual abuse report that from 18 percent to as high as 28 percent of all women surveyed have been sexually abused at some time in their lives, many women have their own sexual abuse issues.  These issues, in turn, make sexual abuse a difficult subject for women, as well.

In the past 25 years, mental health professionals, the media, and child-welfare professionals have worked together to educate the public regarding the problem.  Even today’s music deals with the issue of sex abuse.  Aeorosmith’s hit song, Janie’s Got A Gun, is about a daughter who is abused by her father.

Child sexual abuse is a sexual act imposed on a child.  Incest includes any sexual relationship between a child and an adult in a position of parental authority.  A sexual relationship is any physical contact that is kept a secret.  Adults and older adolescents are able to lure a child into a sexual relationship due to the difference in power between the child and older person.  The significance of the exploitation and the misuse of accepted power relationships cannot be overemphasized when assessing the impact of sexual abuse on the child.  From a child’s point of view, the sexual motivation of the contact and the fact that it must be kept a secret are far more significant than the exact nature of the act itself.

Sexual abuse is profoundly disruptive, disorienting and destructive.  Since children lack the emotional maturation and cognitive development to withstand premature introduction to sexuality by an adult, they are severely traumatized by sexual contacts with adults.  Consequently, there is an interference with the accomplishment of normal developmental tasks.

Evidence of childhood sex abuse includes;

1. The child’s frequent questioning of the limits set for themselves and others.
2. A difficulty in establishing trust with adults.
3. Confusion about the appropriate uses of power and authority.
4. A consistent pattern of fearfulness and anxiety-related symptoms including sleep disturbances, insomnia and nightmares.
5. A poor self-image or “damaged goods” syndrome in which the child feels physically damaged or altered by the sexual encounter.
6. If the victor is a girl, she may develop a phobic avoidance of all males.
7. Acting out behavior.

These symptoms can be related to other problems as well.  If present, a clinical evaluation by a clinician trained to assess for sexual trauma should be consulted.

Sexual trauma is often met with critical remarks from individuals in society who blame the victim.  Shame and guilt are often byproducts of the experience.  Many victims develop symptoms of depression, social withdrawal, and impaired peer relations.  Others experience poor school performance, eating disorders or substance abuse.  The degree of trauma will be influenced by the age of the child, and the extent of threats, coercion, the frequency and extent of and physical injury. Severe trauma can produce post traumatic stress disorder, suicidal behavior and emotional and sexual problems.  In one study, 36 percent of female prostitutes reported childhood sexual abuse.

Part of the difficulty in identifying sexual abuse lies in the denial of the problem.  Parents should educate their children concerning sexual abuse.  Parents should educate their children concerning sexual abuse.  Children need to be told that they should tell their parents if anyone touches them in a way that is uncomfortable.  Children should not be told, “Don’t let anyone touch you.”  Children are not in a position to prevent sexual abuse but they can be taught to tell an adult if it occurs.

If your child tells you that someone has sexually abused him or her, believe your child.  Don’t blame your child.  Children generally tell the truth about sexual abuse.  In fact, they are often reluctant to report it.  The longer the child keeps the aubse a secret, the more damaging and powerful he secret becomes.  Consult a professional trained in the treatment of sexual abuse immediately.  Your child, as well as the entire family, will need the guidance and direction in order to work through this problem.  The sexual abuse must be reported to Child Protective Services or to the Police Department.  It is against the law to sexually abuse a child.  By reporting the abuse, a powerful message is sent to the victim that the victim is not responsible for the abuse.

This article was published in the Plano Star Courier in a weekly column presented by the Mental Health Association of Collin County.  This column was written by Maryanne Watson, Ph.D., psychologist and private practitioner in Plano.