Effects Of Prolonged Sexual Abuse On Youth And Children

As time progresses on, more reports of child sexual abuse (CSA) have been documented. According to Colangelo and Cooperman, CSA is defined as “the use of a child under 18 years of age as an object of gratification for adult sexual needs and desires.” Another definition of CSA is “sexual abuse [that] occurs whenever one person dominates and exploits another by means of sexual activity or suggestion.” (Hall, M., & Hall, J., 2011) it is difficult to

In the typical classroom, a 4-year-old child once said, “If someone wants to have sex with you, you have to do it.” (Rafanello) Child abuse is more prevalent now than ever, and the numbers are only growing. This shows us that child abuse is more relevant now than ever. The amount of damage inflicted on these children mentally range from mild to extreme. This is why it’s important that child abuse gets reported as soon as possible.

On a positive note, victims of sexual assault can find the emotional and mental support they need just by stepping out of their comfort zone to speak up about their condition. Unquestionably, speaking up helps people overcome difficult situations. There are those who believe speaking up does

This is a road not to be taken alone, and the more support an individual has, the better. For a long period of time, the minds of the victims were filled with poisonous lies that weakened their self-esteem and their ability to trust. The perpetrator may have apologized and pleaded for forgiveness in many occasions, but if his or her actions do not match with that of regret, then those words were nothing but meaningless. A victim needs to comprehend that the abuse was in the past, and the best is yet to come. If they are not willing to be helped, then they will fall back down the hole they had just climbed out of. It is understandable that the victim is paranoid and unable to accept the realities of their neglect, but if he or she does not do so than they are continuing with the cycle of neglect and will most likely become the perpetrator. The article, “Cycle of child sexual abuse: links between being a victim and becoming a perpetrator”, reported that 35% of perpetrators were abuse victims as well (Glasser, Kolvin and Campbell). The risk of becoming a perpetrator is so high for the victims due to the fact that they did not have the parental teachings or guidance needed when growing up. This applies to men as well. Although, statistics and research state that they

Over the years, sexual abuse has been defined and regulated across the United States. Laws and protections have been enforced to protect children from sexual perpetrators. These laws are extremely strict in the United States, but this may not be the case around the world. Although persecution of perpetrators remains a common solution, there are other interventions used to rehabilitate and prevent future acts of sexual abuse.

As an example of the legal process causing further victimization, I selected the New York case of a young boy who is being forced to testify in court against the man who sexually assaulted him (Beam, 2015). The boy, who was only 11 years old when the assault occurred, now must face his accuser in court and testify about the humiliating sexual abuse he incurred. This appears to be a case where the victim has not only suffered through the crime itself, but also “has ‘gone through hell’ ever since coming forward with the allegations” (Beam, 2015); being faced to testify in open court will only compound the trauma the boy has suffered.

Studies done by David Finkelhor, Director of the Crime Against Children Research Center, show that about one in five girls and about one in twenty boys are victims of child sexual abuse. Over the course of their lifetime, 28% of U.S. youth’s aged 14 to 17 have been sexually victimized. According to the 2003 National institute of Justice report three out of four adolescent children have been sexually violated by someone they knew very well (Child Abuse Statistics , 2012). The figure below represents children’s exposure to violence in 2011 by the child’s age. The graph shows that children from the ages fourteen to seventeen were sexually victimized the most while children aged zero to one were least exposed sexually (Childrens Exposure to Violence , 2013).

Sexual abuse leaves many scars, creating feelings of guilt, anger, and fear that haunt survivors throughout their lives. These traumatic experiences can be detrimental to the victims’ sense of their own sexuality. Numerous individuals who have been abused have trouble pursuing adult relationships and engaging in sex as an adult. The abuse can color a person 's sexuality, preventing the survivor from pursuing a healthy sex life with a caring partner.  Sexual abuse is defined as unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force, making threats or taking advantage of victims not able to give consent (Corcoran & Walsh, 2006). An immediate reaction to individuals who have been sexually abused include shock, fear or disbelief. Long-term symptoms include anxiety, fear or post-traumatic stress disorder (Corcoran & Walsh, 2006).

When children or anyone decides to report they have been sexually abused, particularly by a family member, the entire household is affected. This in return gives family members the feeling that they have to choose sides, along with deciding who should take the blame. Allegations of

According to psychologists around the world, many who are sexually assaulted keep quiet in fear of rejection and embarrassment . In the book, "Speak", the main character Melinda Sordin, was sexually assaulted the summer of her ninth grade year. Throughout the novel, she chooses to keep quiet and act like everything is normal, when in reality her world is flipped upside down. However, Melinda should have spoken out. It is much better to bring attention to a subject of importance, than to let it rest in the shadow of exile. The truth may not only be of importance to you, but anybody around the problem.

As Marilyn Derby stated, the director of Residence Life at Willamette University, she feels obligated to tell the students when they start talking about sexual assault that she is required to report it and it could lead to a formal investigation. The lack of a confidential resource would prevent students from talking to anyone about the incident for fear of the consequences. There is also a theory that sexual assault is such a problem on college campuses because there isn’t a “capable guardian” (Fisher & Sloan 92). According to “Campus Crime” by Bonnie S. Fisher and John J. Sloan if there was a “legitimate capable guardian who was able to enforce some kind of punishment then there would be a dramatic decrease in the number of sexual assaults a school would experience” (Annotatedbib). If schools could provide a sense of fear for those who attack other students and a sense of comfort and protection for victims, sexual assault would decrease immediately. But someone in the schools must fill that role of protector and punisher or sexual assault will continue to occur and many of the incidents will continue to go unrecognized.

The reasoning behind why I cannot answer this question is because I have never been a victim of a sexual assault and I do not know how I would react or how it would make me feel. Some victims feel embarrassment, shame, anger, fear, guilt. Those are just a few of the effects that linger from being a victim of sexual assault. Victims all respond differently to abuse they endured. There are also unknown variables that come into play like what age the victim is when they are abused. Age plays a major factor in how traumatic an event might have been. Or if the offender was a family member such as a bio-parent who molested their child. Should they ever have to face their offender?

The facts in this article are beneficial for my research as it gives me all the different question and answers I've been asking all my research. Getting deeper into the relevance of sexual assault

I. Attention getter: Do you know a friend or family member who has been sexually abused? Or maybe you have experienced sexual abuse yourself? Are you aware of the psychological and developmental effects it can have on you or someone you may know? Chances are, you don’t—while sexual abuse is common, may people do not speak up, and the problem goes unrecognized.

Child sexual abuse has been reported up to 80,000 times a year, but the number of unreported instances is far greater, because the children are afraid to tell anyone what has happened (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry). Childhood sexual abuse is a traumatic experience affecting the lives of not only the victim, but those close to the victim as well. Many think there is only one person truly traumatized, but in fact, everyone involved is affected. The victim has to deal with their experience the rest of their lives. They may be more at risk for other mental issues as well, including depression. The family involved has to deal with its pain, often causing hardship and discord within the family. This is especially true