Sexual abuse - Research Paper Example

As such, sexual abuse comes in many different forms and can effect a variety of people. Rape and sexual assault, which are non-consensual, forced sexual behaviors, are the most common forms of sexual abuse and can be found in schools, homes, workplaces, on the streets, and even in churches. Rape is the act of forcing another person to have sexual intercourse with them; sexual assault covers a much broader category of behaviors, including flashing, indecent exposure, and torture of another in a sexual fashion.

Inappropriately touching or fondling someone else is also a commonly seen type of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse can also be a verbal matter. When some says sexually suggestive statements to anybody, whether to a child or another adult, and the other person disapproves or is offended by what was said, it constitutes as sexual abuse. Calling someone a derogatory name, especially those that specify a gender or a crude sexual suggestion, is called sexual harassment, which is also considered to be a type of sexual abuse. . Other occurrences of child sexual abuse also include forcing a child to look at pornography or using a child to produce what is known as child pornography.

When a child is pressured, or even simply just asked, to engage in any sort of sexual activity, they are being subjected to sexual abuse. Since all children are under the age of eighteen are considered to be under the age of consent, even if a sixteen-year-old were to give an adult permission to engage in sexual acts, that adult can still be held responsible for child sexual abuse. The consequences on the victim of sexual abuse can be devastating and permanent, especially if the victim was sexually abused as a child, as the ramifications can continue well into adulthood.

When a child is sexually abused, they face many identity issues, such as feeling guilty or blaming themselves about the abuse, which are very common responses if the child was sexually abused by a close family friend or a relative. Sexually abused children have the ability of developing post-traumatic stress disorder or borderline personality disorder as they enter adulthood; furthermore, “victims of child sex abuse are over six times more likely to attempt suicide and eight times more likely to repeatedly attempt suicide (Dinwiddie & Heath).

” Many teenage victims of sexual abuse become depressed and resort to self-injury as a physical outlet to cope with the feelings associated with the abuse. Additional ramifications of child sexual abuse on the victim as they enter adulthood include alcoholism, anxiety, and antisocial behavior. They become paranoid and develop trust issues that often lead them to experiencing further abuse. Similarly, many victims can also become prone to future