Sexual Abuse of Children - Research Paper Example

Sexual Abuse of Children Introduction The topic of child abuse has generated a lot of attention among the government and other organizations that are concerned with the social welfare of the community. The reason why scholars have shifted their focus to this topic is that the numerous efforts dedicated to curb the problem have proved unfruitful. Although there have been a small change in statistics, it is clear that the change has not reflected the various efforts provided by the government to solve this problem. According to global statistics, the child sexual abuse is about 19.7 for females and 7.9% for males. In the US only, the prevalence rate is at 10.1% and the figure has remained relatively constant since the early 1990s. On the older population, over 20% of females and 10% of males in America have suffered child abuse at their young age (Mashand Wolfe 133). These statistics indicate that the problem of child sexual abuse is an issue that requires more focus and a multi-dimensional approach to resolve. The reason why I chose this topic is to develop a better understanding of the reasons behind the prevalence of the problem of child sexual abuse. Statistics provide figures that suggest that the people who are close to the children form the largest portion of the perpetrators. Statistics reveal that 90% of the perpetrators of child sexual abuse are those close to the children, 30% comprising of family members and 60% comprising of other acquaintances such as friends. In choosing this topic, I seek to unveil the myth behind the statistical figures that show that close member of the community perpetrate this crime (Marie 1-11). In my research, I also intend to find out why most parents end up abusing their loved on instead of assuming the role of care providers. In doing so, I intend to provide a grounded platform from where the war against child sex abuse can be launched. This way, it is possible to provide a solution to a problem that has persisted long enough in the society and efforts to resolve the problem have become unsuccessful. Before my research, I expected that majority of the perpetrators of child sexual abuses are strangers who are unknown to the victims. With this note, I felt that one way to solve the problem would be to increase family protection and to enhance better parental care. Surprisingly, statistics show that the people close to the children are likely to inflict this crime to the young ones. The question that I before beginning my research is why the government’s commitment to end abuse against children has remained unsuccessful for many years. It is surprising that statistical coverage from 1990s show that there has been little improvement of the situation (Rigby 12). In turn, this raises two questions that need to be answered if the problem is to be resolved. First, the question of how the procedures launched by the government have failed to curb the problem and what is the best approach to curb the problem. Current Research Many scholars have set out to investigate the cause of the problem of sexual abuse of juveniles in the society today. One of the emerging questions is the reason why family members and those close to the children end up abusing the children while they are expected to take good care of them. Maniglio (636) is among researchers who have investigated on the issue of child sexual abuse and the statistical surveys that show that parents are in the risk of abusing children. In a meta-analysis, Maniglio (636-637) found out a strong relationship between distressed adults and child sexual abuse prevalence in families. His findings show that those parents that distressed are likely to be in the risk of offending due to the psychology that ties abuse to stress. Majority of parents who sexually harass their children suffer from psychological disorders. For instance, families where there are family problems or strong disagreements between couples provide this kind of risk. Such disagreements often result to sexual frustration and parents may resort to their young ones to satisfy their sexual desires. As marriage disagreements have become more common in the society today, it is clear that a huge number of children populations are in the risk of suffering sexual abuse. Research shows that there is a class of vulnerable children susceptible to suffer abuse in the community. Rich (111) points out that the perpetrators of juvenile abuse are those people who know the weaknesses of the children. Children who suffer from psychological disorders such as lack depressed growth, blindness and other illnesses are twice more likely to suffer from violence than normal children (Ferro and Speechley 2344–2354). The perpetrators take advantage that the children have not capacity to defend themselves against such or even assert on such matters. Such children are considered weak in the family and in the social spheres making them subjects of abuse. For instance, a peer will rape a blind child because they will not be able to identify them. The same may happen to dumb child because they cannot speak about the crime. Therefore, Rich (115) suggests that the only way to reduce violence against the susceptible groups is to provide protection for them and to ensure that their rights against such violence are protected. On this note, the society must take a broader look at the problem to ensure that vulnerable groups are t safeguarded against such violence. A question that arises often is why the many measures that the government and other community-based programs have failed to reduce child sexual abuse in the society. For instance, the US government has developed strict measure against perpetrators of such crime in the society. On the other hand, community support programs have focused on providing psychotherapy for victim of sexual violence in the community and have focused their resources on launching awareness campaigns against this crime. However, this war has shown little success and many scholars seem to suggest a different approach to this problem. One of the reasons why these approaches have failed is because a large number of the victims of this vice do not report. Statistics show that over 50% of the cases of child sexual remain unreported hence limiting government actions against this kind of behavior (Friedman 1483). One of the reasons why these cases go unreported is because most children do not know their rights. Secondly, those who perpetrate these actions are close relatives and the fear of shame and consequential imprisonment make parents remain silent about these cases. As such, the actions of the government and other community support programs have remained unsuccessful. It is surprising how child abuse can be devastating to the life of the child victims. Child sexual molestation is an act whose consequences go beyond physical damage. Research shows that sexual abuse at a young age is a source of psychological torture to the child. While many cases end up in physical damage such as bleeding that requires treatment, these acts end up permanent in the minds of the young children. At this age, the children have a fully developed memory capacity and have the ability to remember anything that happens in their life. These acts result to psychological torture to the children as they suffer mental stress and become fearful of their caregivers (Marie 8). They end up with the feeling that their caregivers are their potential enemies in life. The guilt that develops at this time ends up being a permanent problem and affects their future sexual life. They feel ashamed to indulge in sexual relationships since they develop and inferiority complex. Research shows that children who have suffered sexual abuse are likely to be future offenders. Since they have bitter feelings against the people of opposite gender, they may end being violent. Statistics shows that many female child delinquents suffered some form of sexual violence at some point in their early age. In addition, psychological torture of the victims may result to poor performance of the children in their education, hence jeopardizing the future of these children. On this note, child sexual molestation has both short-term and long-term negative consequences on the life of children. Research shows that there should be a different approach to resolving the prevalence of child sexual abuse in the society today. Most scholars have arrived into a concession that the government efforts alone cannot end this crime. As Leisa and Walsh (734) note, the role of the community in developing a strategy to curb juvenile abuse is important. The reason why efforts to reduce violence against children has failed is because the government has ignored the role of the community in contributing to this war. On this basis, an integrative approach would be stronger in this war. The government should encourage the society to report child sexual abuse and avoid this vice. Parents who meet the clinical standards of being pedophilic are potential perpetrators of sexual abuse and thus actions to fight this war should consider this. Secondly, there is need for the government to take personal care of vulnerable children in the society to ensure that they do not suffer abuse in future. Protecting this category of children would assist in reducing their risk of suffering abuse in their immediate environments. In this light, it is a matter of urgency that the government should shift their focus from stand along measures and use a more integrative approach to fighting child sexual abuse. Summary After a critical research, my views regarding the prevalence of child sexual abuse in the society today have changed. Contrary to the belief that child abuse is a result of increase in criminal activities in the society, it is clear that majority of the perpetrators of child sexual violence are those people that are close to the children. Since this group knows the vulnerabilities of these children, they are able to take advantage. Secondly, increase in family distress has aggravated the problem of sexual abuse. Secondly, before this research, I felt that the government failure to launch preventive strategies has resulted to the increase in prevalence of such problems in the society. However, it is clear that the government efforts have failed to work because the society has failed to cooperate to installed programs by reporting the cases of offense in the society (Leisa and Walsh 734). This research has increased my understanding on the prevalence of child sexual violence in the society today. From my review, I feel that the war against sexual child abuse is a war that must gain ground beginning from the community. Since the perpetrators of this vice come from the society, then it is indisputable that the war against violence must include those people close to the child. In conclusion, the problem of child sexual violence is a complex issue that is beyond the conceptualization of the common people in the society. While many feel that child sexual abuse perpetrators include strangers and those people unknown to the children, it is surprising that the offenders are the caregivers of these children. Adults suffering from psychological disorders and distressed parents are the majority of child abusers. As a result, these cases have not one to report them as they force children to remain silent on the issue and families fear to report to avoid shame a severe punishment of their loved one. Consequently, any government efforts to curb the problems have failed as more cased are not reported and making it hard to impose any legal measures against offenders. This revelation shows that this problem demands a more integrative approach to end the problem that subjects many children to psychological stress as they grow up. To secure the future of our children we need to launch a war that incorporates the community, the government and other community support organizations to eliminate the problem. The government must create awareness on the need for the society to report cases of abuse to assist the government in reacting to these issues. Secondly, the government should put in place effective measures to protect the vulnerable groups from potential offenders to ensure that risk is minimal. Developing a society that is aware of the problem and one that is willing to cooperate would be the best way to solve the problem of child sexual abuse in the society. Works Cited Ferro, MA and Speechley KN. Depressive symptoms among mothers of children with epilepsy: a review of prevalence, associated factors, and impact on children. Epilepsia 2009; 50:2344–2354. Friedman, Mark S., et al. "A Meta-Analysis Of Disparities In Childhood Sexual Abuse, Parental Physical Abuse, And Peer Victimization Among Sexual Minority And sexual Nonminority Individuals." American Journal Of Public Health 101.8 (2011): 1481-1494. Business Source Complete. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. Maniglio, Roberto. Child Sexual Abuse in the Etiology of Depression: A systematic Review of Reviews. Depression and Anxiety, 27(7), 2010. Marie Flem, et al. "Prevalence Of Sexual, Physical And Emotional Abuse In The Norwegian Mother And Child Cohort Study." BMC Public Health 13.1 (2013): 1-11. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. Mash, Eric, and Wolfe, David. Abnormal Child Psychology. London: Cengage Learning. 2010. Print. Rich, Phil. Understanding, Assessing, and Rehabilitating Juvenile Sexual Offenders. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. Print. Rigby K. Effects of peer victimization in schools and perceived social support on adolescent well-being. JAdolesc. 2000;23(1):57---68. Walsh, Kerryann, and Leisa Brandon. "Their Children's First Educators: Parents' Views About Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Education." Journal Of Child & Family Studies 21.5 (2012): 734-746. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. Read More