Sexual abuse is a very common and prevalent problem in the United States. Approximately 80,0000 cases of child abuse are reported every year. ("Child sexual abuse," 2011) However, these numbers may not be accurate due to underreporting. Most common types of sexual abuse are incestuous abuse, extra-familial abuse, pornography, prostitution, sex rings, cults, or sexual abuse within institutions. It is estimated that 60-70% of all sexual abuse occurs within the family. Victims may be male or female, but female victims are the most widely reported. Perpetrators may be male or female, but are more predominately male. Sexual abuse can cause lasting mental and physical effects on children. These effects can vary in severity depending on the type and length of the sexual abuse. (Crosson-Tower, 2013) Sexual Abuse of Children Sexual abuse is a very common and prevalent problems in the United States. Approxmately 80,0000 cases of child abuse are reported every year. ("Child sexual abuse," 2011) However, these numbers may not be accurate. Several cases of sexual abuse go unreported. “It is estimated that one in four women are sexually abused during their childhood” ("Definitions, scope, and,"). The actual number of sexually abused males is vastly underreported, but it estimated that possibly “one in six males are sexually abused as children”("Definitions, scope, and," ) . The effects of child abuse are long lasting and can cause problems in the child's adult life. It is very important to understand how to recognize sexual abuse, what steps can be taken to help stop the abuse, and what help is available for the child. (Crosson-Tower, 2013) Sexual abuse is defined as any sexual activity with a child that is being u... ... middle of paper ... ...der to assist in decreasing this problem, children need to be educated on what sexual abuse is and how to report it if it happens to them. A lot of children do not realize what is happening to them is wrong because they do not know any different. They may also be told by the perpetrator that what they are doing is perfectly normal. With the proper education children would know that nobody is supposed to touch them in a sexual way. More parents and caregivers need to be educated on the signs of a sexually abused child. If they are able to recognize these signs, they may be able to discover the abuse and put to an end. Many cases of sexual abuse go unreported due to shame, guilt, and not knowing that what is happening is wrong. However, with more education in schools and in homes these cases may be reported earlier before any significant abuse has happened.
The effects of childhood sexual abuse carry on with the children forever. To what extent and to what effect does abuse have on children during adulthood? What are the main issues that adults have been abused suffer from in adulthood? Do they have more of a physical issue with preforming with their partner in the bedroom or do they have more of a mental block due to their trauma? The world had been asking these questions for far too long and we need answers on how helping the children of our world. The questions that have been stated have been answered through the two articles that will be summarized below.
Finkelhor, D., Hotaling, G., Lewis, I., & Smith, C. (1990). Sexual abuse in a national survey of
Child abuse in general is quite complex and at the same time one of the most challenging social issue facing people all around the USA. Child abuse cases have been recorded in all the states of the USA. The cases occur in all areas be it cities, small towns, suburbs, and even in rural areas. The vice also happens in all types of families regardless of the ethnic origin of the family or the even family income (UNICEF, 2015). It is thus important that effort is put into reducing cases of child abuse.
People may not be aware, but any one of their peers, friends, or neighbors may be victims of child abuse. Every day, someone experiences physical, emotional, neglect, and/or sexual abuse. Abuse can lead to death or injury for the rest of a victim's life, from either the perpetrator or themselves. In order to prevent child abuse society must: recognize the types of abuse, understand common causes of abuse, know the characteristics of abusers, and realize the effects abuse has, not just on the child, but on families and communities across the world.
Child abuse is a very serious problem, and many people have failed to help correct this issue. Child abuse comes in five different forms: Neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and medical abuse. Sadly, millions of children are exposed to all five forms of abuse during their childhood. Neglecting a child is when a person does not provide a child with his everyday needs. Physical abuse is leaving bruises, broken bones, and other marks on a child. Emotional abuse is when a parent verbally assaults their child resulting in the child forgetting his self-worth. Sexual abuse or molestation of a child is when a person touches a child inappropriately and forces them to perform sexual acts with them. Medical abuse is when a child is
Molestation is the first type of sexual abuse that’ll be discussed. Molestation is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Most people think sexual abusers are strangers to their victims. But the truth is most abusers know their victims and use their stand in their relationship to try to make the victims do what the abusers want them to do. Most children who get molest are by family members. “More than 90 percent of juvenile sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator in some way.” (Snyder, Howard). According to Dr. Elizabeth Forsyth and Margret Hyde, research done in the 1980s and 1990s suggests that almost all abusers are males who are known to their victims and that most abuse occurs within the family. (pg. 21) One in three girls and one in five boys get sexually abused before the age of eighteen. (Arta, C)
Child abuse is defined as the physical, sexual or emotional maltreatment or neglect of a child or children. Nowadays, you hear about numerous child abuses every year and every year the statists grow larger. Tens of thousands of children each year are traumatized by physical, sexual, and emotional abusers or by caregivers who neglect them, making child abuse as common as it is shocking. Most people cannot imagine what would make adults use violence against a child, and the worse the behavior is, the more unimaginable it seems. People do not realize the different forms of abuse children may receive. This list includes physical, mental, emotional, neglect, and sexual abuse. The psychological result of each abused child is often the same: deep emotional scars and a feeling of worthlessness.
For many, the term “child sexual abuse” entails physical contact bestowed upon a child in a sexually predatory manner. While this assumption is not incorrect, many do not realise how broad the term actually is. Sexual abuse encompasses: sexual acts between two people when one is much more powerful, forcing or persuading one to engage in any sexual activity, and non physical acts such as voyeurism, exhibitionism, and verbal communication.(Townsend, C., & Rheingold, A.A., 2013)
The sexual abuse of a child is a horrific criminal act, and one that is much too common in the United States. The only way to prevent it is to become knowledgeable and educated on the topic and to not stay silent, but speak for a child that may not have the voice to do so. These children cannot speak for themselves, and it is up to you to get them the help they need and possibly prevent the crimes from ever happening.
The effects of child abuse are multiple. The pain and trauma the abused child goes through is just a small part of how this cauldron of hidden depravity in our society affects all of us. Wrecked lives can be seen in persons of all ages and in all walks of life. Society as a whole is also effected by child abuse both in negative and positive ways. In this essay I will present some of the factor and results of this violent behavior on individuals as well as our culture.
By cause of sexual abuse most victims suffer from results of violence, misconceptions of sex, and are more likely to become sexual abusers. Victims can have short or long term effects of sexual abuse ranging from trauma to alcohol abuse. Secondly, they generalize sex as something that is a standard in their life and that then leads them to explore it further. Lastly, victims are more likely to become perpetrators in an attempt to overcome the powerlessness they felt when being sexually abused. Every day sexual abuse affects children, both on a physical and mental level. With the choices of one individual, a child’s life can be changed forever. They may wish for a life full of love and happiness, but because of the people surrounding them they unavoidably are handed one full of discomfort and abuse.
More importantly, “60 percent of children who are sexually abused do not disclose and most are acquaintances but as many as 47 percent are family or extended family” (The Scope of, 2016). The prevalence of child sexual abuse is difficult to determine because it is often not reported; experts agree that the incidence is far greater than what is reported to authorities (Child Sexual Abuse, 2012). Startling statistics represent the depth of the issue. Globally, prevalence rates show that a range of 7-36% of women and 3-29% of men experience sexual abuse in childhood (The Scope of, 2016). “The U.S Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau report child maltreatment 2010 found that 9.2% of victimized children were sexually assaulted” (Child Sexual Abuse,
Child sexual abuse is a substantial community health problem in the United States and across the world. In the United States one out of three females and one out of five males have been victims of sexual abuse before the age of 18 years. Regrettably, sexual abuse is considered a moderately common experience in the lives of children. Girls are at twice the risk than boys for sexual abuse during childhood and at eight times the risk during teenage years. Because significant physical, emotional, social, cognitive and behavioral problems are related to childhood trauma, the need to more effectively address the issue has become supreme. Common issues that arise after sexual abuse occurs includes the following: excessive sexual knowledge, egocentric thinking, feelings of guilt and fear, fear of reporting the incident, difficulty with sequential events, recalling details, lowered self-esteem and depression, feelings of anger, preoccupation with sex play.
Sexual abuse awareness is a topic for all families and all walks of life to have at an early age for prevention and detection. Most sex abuse begins at an early age and many children do not know that they have been the victims of abuse if the abuse starts young enough, they just sense something does not feel right. Despite the intentional praying on ones’ youth as to prevent detection of the abuse, once a child reaches a certain age the feeling or indication of inappropriate touch transcends. It is the responsibility of parents, family, health care providers, we as nurses, and the community to protect and promote awareness of this history of a silent, but life altering abuse. However, many struggle with the introduction of such an unthinkable, but real problem, what age is the right age for awareness. Could love, affection, and protection, during ones’ childhood be the key to break the cycle of abuse.