Child Rape by Child Mother Boyfriend - Case Study Example

Child Rape by Child Mother Boyfriend Introduction Studies show that rape is usually the act whereby a sexual activity takes place without the consent of one party (Kids Health, 2014). Although the act of rape is common among the female gender, male rape cases are also common. According to studies, these cases normally occur to children since they do not have the strength to defend themselves and thus making them easy targets. In most rape cases, the rapist and the victim know each other, that is, the rapist might be a close relative or a family friend. In the US, cases of rape have become quite rampant to the extent that others happen with the consent of the child’s guardian or parent (Cortez, 2014). In relation to the increase of rape cases among children in the US, the study addresses why the incidences are on the rise in addition to what ought to be done should such an incident occur. Case Study According to studies, cases of children rape cases have been on the rise in the US. Unlike other rape cases that involve strangers, these ones are rather unique because they involve the mother to the child and her boyfriend. For instance, in Monterey, Claudia Ochoa, a mother, allowed her boyfriend, Ruiz Maciel to molest her eleven-year daughter on several occasions to the extent of impregnating her (Cortez, 2014). This is quite an unfortunate and is a clear indication that morality no longer exists. This is because it is difficult to come to terms with such an incident whereby a parent, who a child looks up, trusts suddenly turns against the child and starts abusing her by not only allowing her to be raped but also she herself participating in the incidence. According to Cortez (2014), the rape incident went on for a long time not until the daughter fell sick and went to the hospital where she tested positive for pregnancy. After the incident came to the limelight, both Ochoa and Ruiz were arraigned in court and released on a bail of two million and five million US dollars respectively. Why Mothers Allow it to Happen One of the common questions in the minds of many is why and how can a mother comfortably allow this incidence to happen at their watch. Studies show that most of these women are normally of unsound mind in addition to being under drug influence (Chesler, 2011). Similarly, women allow this to happen out of anger. This is especially if the biological father left her, hence leaving them with the burden of taking care of the child (Chesler, 2011). This is evident since in most of these cases, the mother’s boyfriend is usually not the child’s biological father. Drugs normally makes a person experience some form of memory lapses, hence, when under influence of alcohol in addition to other illegal drugs such as cocaine or cannabis, most of these women are of unsound mind (Solomon, 2012). Hence they end up making wrong decisions such as inviting their boyfriends over to molest their children (Solomon, 2012). Studies also show that these ideas come due to the woman’s financial status; lack of money can make one come up with weird ways of making money, one of them being to give up their daughters for rape. For instance, boyfriends promising them money only if they allow them abuse the child. Since this might be their only option, most of these women give in. One other factor behind the rise of mothers allowing their boyfriends to molest their children is illiteracy. According to studies, most mothers give up their children due to illiteracy in the matters of love and relationships (Solomon, 2012). This is because most of these women let their boyfriends molest their children in a move to prove their love for them, hence giving little attention on the child’s future sexuality, which is if the child manages to survive the ordeal. How it Affects the Child Raping a minor normally come with severe consequences especially for the child. First, the process is usually a painful one since the child’s reproductive system is yet to develop unlike that of an adult. Hence, there are usually incidences of internal bleeding, most of which result to death if medication is not sort in time (Chesler, 2012). Apart from ruining of the damaging of the reproductive system, some rapists also commit sodomy; also damaging the victim’s anus. Similarly, once a child becomes a victim of rape, his or her future sexual life ends up being problematic one. For instance, in some situations, apart from losing interest in sex, they also never wish to see any person of the opposite sex since it brings back the old memories. Since the child’s reproductive system was yet to develop, this might result to it not developing completely, hence, implying that the possibilities of the child not being able to bear any children in future are high (Solomon, 2012). What a Parent Can Do Although most of these cases happen with the knowledge of the mother, in some situations the parent is never aware. In such a situation, a parent ought to seek immediate medical attention since delaying the process might result to tampering of evidence in addition to increasing chances of the child’s death (Kids Health, 2014). By seeking medication, the mother is usually in a position to get professional advice on what needs to be done, for instance pressing of charges to the rapists as well as how to counsel the child, that is if he or she is old enough to comprehend what happened. The next step which parents ought to do is to offer counseling guidance to the child, this is because just like any other victim of rape, someone ought to be there to help him or her heal, and in such a case, a parent is the best option. Through counseling, the child will feel some form of reprieve since he or she will realize that she is not alone and that someone actually cares (The Women’s Center, 2011). Most children that are victims of rape normally have the perception that their parent would be angry with them; it is therefore the role of the parent to assure the child it was not their fault, and that the only liable for the action is the rapist (Miller, Dove & Miller, 2008). By doing so, the child feels safe in the parent’s presence, hence will open up and explain what actually happened and in so doing increase chances of the rapist being brought to book. The parent also ought to promise the child that the rapist, who happens to be the mother’s boyfriend shall never come back in their lives, this promise will make the child feel safer (Miller, Dove & Miller, 2008). If the parent is not good at providing counseling services, it is advisable that she seeks these services from professional counselors within their area of residence. Who the Child can Tell When a child has been a victim of rape, there is loss of trust on a number of people. The case is even more serious when the rapist happens to be mother’s boyfriend. When a child has been a victim of rape by the mother’s boyfriend, the child rarely tells the mother, this is because there is always the fear that the mother would not trust her words over those of her boyfriend. According to studies, when a child has been a victim of rape by a relative or close family member, he or she ought to tell the parent (Kids Heath, 2014). Apart from the parent, the child should also tell a neighbor who is worth trusting; this is because if the parent would not take the child’s statement seriously, the neighbor would (Kids Health, 2014). The child ought to tell persons such as church leaders as well as county sheriffs and other law enforcers. The earlier the child reports the incidence, there earlier the chances of the rapists being brought to book. Conclusion Cases of child rape by the mother’s boyfriends have recently been on the rise in the US. This is when a mother invites her boyfriend over to rape her child. Studies show that such women are usually of unsound mind since most of them are often under influence of substances such as cocaine or cannabis. Apart from being under the influence, most women commit such acts due to illiteracy, this is because most of them do it to impress their boyfriends, for instance to prove that they are in love with them. Children that have been victims of rape normally need support from their parents, it is therefore important that a parent be beside the child throughout the recovery process, this is because it makes the child feel safe. References Chesler, P. (2011). Mothers on Trial: The Battle for Children and Custody. Chicago: Chicago Review Press Cortez, F. (2014). “Monterey County prosecutors: Mother helped boyfriend rape her daughter.” KSBW. Retrieved on 23 July 2014 from http://www.ksbw.com/news/central- california/monterey/monterey-county-deputies-arrest-woman-on-rape- charges/25719910#!bkiQ20 Kids Health. (2014). If Your Child is Raped. Retrieved on 23 July 2014 from http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/rape.html Miller, K., Dove, M. & Miller, S. (2007). “A Counselor’s Guide to Child Sexual Abuse: Prevention, Reporting and Treatment Strategies.” Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference. Retrieved on 23 July 2014 from https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&cad=rja&uact =8&ved=0CFcQFjAF&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.counseling.org%2Fdocs%2Fdisaste r-and-trauma_sexual-abuse%2Fa-counselor-s-guide-to-sa_miller-dove- miller.doc%3Fsfvrsn%3D2&ei=en7PU6xDgpLsBseTgJAF&usg=AFQjCNFpqNd0Tl7Ia azDotsLk6xTFkMjYw&sig2=aZpC35pisynmverAZxzolw&bvm=bv.71667212,d.ZWU Rivers, F. (2012). The atonement child. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers. Solomon, A. (2012).Far From the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity. United States: Simon and Schuster The Women’s Center. (2011). Rape Crisis and Victim Services. Retrieved on 23 July 2014 from http://www.womenscentertc.org/rape-crisis-and-victim-services/ Read More