The Problem of Child Molestation across the World - Coursework Example

Child molestation appears to be an epidemic spreading across the world. Dominguez et al reports that in the United s “one out of three females and one out of five males have been victims of sexual abuse before the age of 18.” Can this epidemic be controlled to the point where it is no longer a danger to society? The author of this paper believes that such an epidemic could be curbed but it would require the participation of every member of society in every nation. The most common definition of sexual abuse is “any activity involving a child where consent is not or cannot be given.”(Dominguez et al, 2006) Finkelhor, as cited in the article, Child Molesters, defined molestation as that which occurs when “an adult or person significantly older than a child engages in sexual activity with a minor.” The specific laws pertaining to child molestation varies from state to state, therefore, what may be deemed as acceptable in one state would be unacceptable in another. For example, in the state of Texas, the age difference between parties must be at least three years for the sexual interactions to be categorized as a crime. In other example, Ross Cheit, (as cited by Morin) proposes that child molestation is a capital offense and therefore has a maximum sentence of life behind bars. However, in Rhode Island only a few people have served any significant time in jail. Child molestation includes actions such as “touching, fondling, kissing in a sexual manner, oral sex, masturbation and digital or penile penetration of rectum or vagina.” (Child Molesters) Two factors are extremely important in any discourse on child molestation. Firstly, children very rarely lie about being molested It is unusual for a child to be able to give details of a sexual act without first experiencing it either through pornographic influence or actual participation. Secondly, children never outgrow the trauma that is caused from child molestation. Who then are the persons responsible for causing this lifelong trauma? Wooden, an investigative reporter, interviewed hundreds of convicted child molesters in American prisons. He discovered that the individuals who fit the profile of child molester are those who are males, females, young, old, rich, poor, black, white, professionals and non-professionals. Thus, he discovered that child molesters come from every creed and race, every class and color and every gender. There is also no discrimination in the age of the molester. The US Justice Department and Customs Postal Inspectors revealed that child molesters cover 44 percent of all the occupations recorded by the U.S. Department of Labor. Often, it is the people who are known and trusted by the children that molest them. They may or may not be known by other family members. In general, these molesters have adult sex partners but children are their main sex preference. Interestingly, they are usually involved in a profession which allows them direct contact with children. Molesters are experts at developing relationships with children. They usually supply them with some need or resource which they are not getting at home. Pornography is the main tool that is used to legitimize and trick children into having sex with offenders. Although in this information age, some of the most helpful information is found on the internet simultaneously, we have some of the most violent pornography available. In today’s world of computer technology these perpetrators are using the internet to spread the disease of child molestation. They are using public chat rooms in order to trap the children and invite them to a private room where they may entice them into a sexual relationship. Consequently, it is crucial that parents learn about computers so that they can monitor their child’s computer activity. The more time that a parent spends with a child prevents or reduces the time that would be spent on the computer. The child then would not have to depend on the computer as the only source of recreation, communication or companionship. The computer should be kept in a location where it can be freely viewed by all. Additionally pornographic blocking software may be added. Not surprisingly, there are many more male offenders than female and more females are victims of molestation than males. Throughout childhood girls are twice as likely as boys to be molested and eight times more likely during adolescence. In fact the US Bureau of Justice reports that almost 30 percent of all forcible rapes among females occur before the age of 11. Who are the preys of these predators? Children who look depressed, who appear untidy and neglected and those who are loners are prime targets for child molesters. These abductors frequently trick children by asking them to help to find a lost puppy or asking them for directions. Children are taught to respect and obey those who are in authority over them. Thus, a child is not prepared to deal with a situation where an authority figure demands sex from them. Parents therefore need to inform their children that not all adults have their well-being at heart. Dr Gene Abel suggests that children become victims of abuse due to the “Affection Lure.” Young children are ensnared by candy, toys or money whilst older children are enticed by money, drugs, alcohol and promises of movie careers. Dr Abel posits that most children are “groomed” for some time before they actually become victims. Interestingly, children at the “brink of puberty” are the major targets for sexual molestation. Dr Abel quotes one of the predators he interviewed, “Give me a kid who knows nothing about sex, and you’ve given me my next victim.” This fact should propel parents to take a closer look at how much freedom and supervision they should give to their pre-teen children seeing that this age group is the most vulnerable for molestation. Not only are pre-teens the most targeted group but children also sexually molest other children. The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that 23 percent of all sexual offenders were under the age of 18 and that 40 percent of offenders of victims under age six were juveniles. Juvenile offenders under the age of 12 committed acts such as forcible sodomies, fondling and rapes and assault with an object. Some juveniles as well as adult offenders have formed themselves into pedophile organizations around the world. Although few in number they are able to wreak havoc on today’s children. Their members argue that they are genuinely concerned about the good of the children. They believe that their sexual relationship with children is harmless and in fact healthy for children. Thus, their goals are to decriminalize child molestation and to lower the age of consent. Pedophile conferences and conventions meet in public places and on the net where they exchange descriptions and images of children. Their activities are not found to be illegal because they are careful to remain under “protected civil liberties.”(Wooden 2007) No one can be with their children every second of every day; therefore it is essential that children are taught the skills of survival in today’s world. They must be taught how to recognize and escape the lures used by sexual predators. (Wooden 2007) The article, Child Molesters caution parents to advise children to always ask parental permission before going anywhere, even if it is someone they know. They should state where they are going and with whom they are going. Further, they should seek parental approval before accepting any type of gift from anyone. Children should be encouraged to go out in a group because there is safety in numbers. Moreover, children must also be taught from an early age that there are certain parts of their bodies that must not be touched. These are private parts. Therefore anyone touching these parts should be reported immediately. In addition, children should be encouraged to find a police officer, a security guard or a manager to ask for help whenever they may be separated from parents. From an early age as possible children should be taught their home phone number and address. Not only should they be taught how to call 911 in case of emergencies but also understand that they have the right to call the Police Department to verify a police officer’s credentials. Some additional strategies that may be used by parents to safeguard their children comprise forming network groups in their community. They can also insist that all slumber parties be well chaperoned by someone the parents know and trust. Another strategy entails demonstrating different role plays of what the child should do if a stranger asks for help to find a puppy or to find a particular location. Perhaps the most important strategy a parent can adopt is to develop and sustain an open communication line with their children so that they are free to discuss any matter under the sun. In spite of a variety of precautions a child may still be molested. In this case the first line of defense should be to stay calm. The discoverer of the offense should not add to children’s sense of negativity. Healing would take place at a faster rate if the parent’s attitude and reactions are right. Therefore, instead of scolding or punishing, the child should be affirmed and assured that she/he is not to be blamed but the perpetrator. The child did nothing wrong. Many perpetrators are able to so monopolize the thoughts of their victims that children many times believe that they wanted the sexual act and so they are to blame for wrong doing. Immediately, the police department should be contacted and medical examination should be sought for the child. Physical injuries and the threat of sexual transmitted diseases are serious threats to children’s well-being. In ensuring that the process of healing begins as early as possible it is vital to respect the child’s privacy. It is recommended that a private place be found where discussion and recording of name, place, dates as much detail as would be needed to avoid the excessive questioning of the child. Although the laws and the levels of criminal acts in terms of child abuse vary from state to state many states require mandatory reporting of child abuse. The laws associated with reporting child abuse require that professionals who are in contact with the child report any suspicions of child abuse to the law enforcement, department of social services or child protection agencies. Another critical action to be taken on the part of the discoverer of the molestation is to remove the abuser from the environment in which there is easy access to younger children. A treatment program should be located to help the abuser to discontinue the offense. There are several signs which can be used to identify children with possible problems. These include the use of sexual language beyond a child’s age which suggests that the child may have been exposed to sexual material or may be engaging in sexual behavior that is inappropriate for his/her age at school or at home. Specifically, in preschool children one may observe inappropriate sexual behavior such as insertion of objects into genitals or rectum. Mood swings, bed wetting, fear of going to bed, pain, and itching, bleeding, sudden unexplained aggressive behavior, sudden fear of people, things, and places. Moelker noted that traumatic events other than sexual molestation may cause the same symptoms. She has grouped problems related to child molestation into psychological, social, sexual and physical problems. The most common effect of child molestation is a condition known as posttraumatic stress disorder. This disorder may occur when the disorder continues for more than a month and the individual refuses to go to school or to work or to communicate with anyone. Counseling or therapy would be extremely useful to the child because children are not able to handle the trauma of sexual abuse. Can this epidemic be treated, cured or prevented from occurring again? The author of this paper believes that there are a number of actions that can be done to treat and subsequently, prevent the abuse from happening again. Techniques such as “trauma-focused play therapy, trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy and eye movement desensitization are some of the individual child-focused treatments that may be given. Group- based psychotherapy expose victims to other victims. Hence, the molested child does not feel like he/she is alone.” Entire family interventions would assist in the effective functioning of the family and thereby aid in the healing process of every family member. Abel Gene and Harlow Nora propose that there are sex-specific evaluation and treatment for children, adolescent and adults who are sexually interested in younger children.  These non-traditional evaluations and treatments are conducted by a sex-specific therapist who determines the extent of the problem and subsequently teaches the client new skills to redirect their attention to appropriate partners. Individual treatment requires a therapist and the child to meet regularly. This therapist must however, be trained specifically at working with children who have been victim of sexual abuse. Of vital importance to the well-being of a victim is the manner in which the family responds to the victim when child molestation has been discovered. The consequences of the family’s reaction are far reaching for it would not only negatively affect the child but also every member of society. Children who inform others about acts of molestation done to them and are not believed or those who tell no one are at greater risk than the general population for many types of problems. These problems, such as drugs and alcohol abuse may continue with the child into adulthood. Another major societal effect is that males tend to violently victimize others. The Criminal Offenders Statistics reports that over 75 percent of serial rapists were sexually abused as young children. Of paramount importance to the annihilation of this epidemic is the suggestion made by Rowe 2006 that the first step in training personnel to perform duties in a youth-related service is to provide a nonthreatening educational forum. Persons should be aware that fantasy and temptations are common. These fantasies have the potential to instigate destructive actions. Hence, warning signs and preventative measures should be built-in in training sessions offered by teachers’ colleges, medical schools, social welfare institutions and other programs where individuals have free access to children. References Abel Gene and Harlow Nora. (2007).The Stop Child Molestation Book, What Ordinary People can do in their Everyday Lives to save Three Million Children? The Child Molestation Research and Prevention Institute. Retrieved November 19, 2007 from http://www.childmolestationprevention.org/pages/sexuallytroubledchild.html Bureau of Justice Statistics: Criminal Offenders Statistics. Retrieved November 19, 2007 from http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm#child Child Molesters. Retrieved November 18, 2007 from http://www.ktk.ru/~cm/molester.htm Dominguez Renee, Nelke, Connie, Perry, Bruce. (2006). Sexual Abuse of Children. The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. Retrieved November 19, 2007 from http://www.aaets.org/article124.htm Moelker Wendy. April 2007.What are the Consequences of Sexual Abuse? What are the Effects of Child Abuse? What are the symptoms of child molestation? Web4Health.Retrieved November, 19 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007 from http://www.web4health.info/en/answers/sex-abuse-effects.htm Morin Richard. Ross Cheit seeks more accurate analysis of child molestation data. Retrieved November 20, 2007 from http://www.brown.edu/Administration/George_Street_Journal/cheit.html Rowe, Robert.2006.Sexual Abuse Prevention: A Misguided Focus. A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas. 79 (5) 228-228. Wooden, Ken. 2007. A Profile of the Child Molester. Child Lures Prevention. Retrieved November 19, 2007 from http://www.childluresprevention.com/research/molester.asp Read More