The Effects Of Media On Child Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse can be hard to define because of the many different forms it can take on, the different levels of frequency, the variation of circumstances that can occur. Until a child is fit to function as a self-supporting and informed adult, we have an obligation not to take advantage of their lack of power or protection to inflict damage, or demand submission to acts that are not in their own best interests within. Children are being abused every day in different countries. While commonly accepted wisdom had been that childhood sexual abuse results in long lasting negative outcomes.

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

Forms of CSA include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities (regardless of the outcome), indecent exposure of the genitals to a child, displaying pornography to a child, actual sexual contact against a child, physical contact with the child's genitals, viewing of the child's genitalia without physical contact, or using a child to produce child pornography. The effects of child sexual abuse include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, propensity to re-victimization in adulthood, and physical injury to the child, among other problems. Sexual abuse by a family member is a form of incest, and can result in more serious and long-term psychological trauma, especially in the case of parental incest. Approximately 15% to 25% of women and 5% to 15% of men were sexually abused when they were children. Most sexual abuse offenders are acquainted with their victims; approximately 30% are relatives of the child, most often brothers, fathers, mothers, sisters and uncles or cousins; around 60% are other acquaintances such as friends of the family, babysitters, or neighbors; strangers are the offenders in approximately 10% of child sexual abuse cases. Studies have shown that the psychological damage is often particularly severe when sexual assault is committed by parents against children due to the incestuous nature of the assault. Incest between a child or adolescent and a related adult has been identified as the most

In addition, about 16% of the children suffered from physical abuse, while 9% of the children suffered from sexual abuse”. The amount of children being abused and neglected does not stop there; “7% of children suffered from psychological maltreatment, 2% experienced medical neglect while 9% of children suffered from other forms of maltreatments” (CAPTA, 2010).

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is growing and becoming more prevalent around the world (Aspelmeier, Elliott, & Smith, 2007; Karakurt & Silver, 2014; Mikulincer & Shaver, 2007). As such, CSA acquired concern as being a serious problem in recent decades. CSA is any type of sexual relation with a child, who is unable to consent, through force, threat, or dishonesty to assure participation. Consequently, CSA associates with psychological difficulties, such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Child sexual abuse occurs in a variety of ways. While women are capable of sexually abusing children, research suggests that men are more likely to abuse (Crosson-Tower, 2014). Because society tends to overlook female perpetrators, these numbers may change in the future. Depending on whether the abuse is intrafamilial are extrafamilial, perpetrators have access to children in different ways.

Sexual abuse constitutes a serious violation of children’s rights and human dignity. Sexual abuse occurs when a person uses their power over a child, and involves the child in any sexual act. The power of the abuser lies in their age, advantage, superiority of intellectual or physical development, or in a relationship of authority with

CSA can leave survivors with both short and long term effects. This view is supported by Ferguson (1997), ‘as well as the immediate effects of such abuse seen in childhood, findings from research have reported how the impact of CSA can affect the lives of adult survivors.’

The first category introduces one of the most common forms of female sexual predation. Mothers who abuse their children are typically the most common of female sexual offenders. They take advantage of any sexual situation and usually have a history of incestuous sexual victimization (Rufo, 2011). Children who are in an incestuous relationship with their mother are often pressured into the relation with the threat of having the family broken up or taken to a foster home. Because of this, therapists have a difficult time recognizing the signs of mother-child incestuous relationships because of the child’s fear of revealing the abuse (Rufo,

They aim to induce fear, contempt and a feeling of caution throughout the public, often making out the cases are much more prevalent, which in real life they are not.” This quotes suggests how most media items publicised consists majority of male perpetrator. It is hardly mentioned in the media of a female CSA perpetrator. The media entails such empathy towards the victim, as mentioned by the interviewee, a child victim is perceived as “young and naïve”, and the media gathers images of children in their school uniform, highlighting an innocent imagery.

Throughout this work I will relate to a case study. I will provide a definition of abuse using both sociological and psychological perspectives to contribute to our understanding of the causes of abuse. I will define the types, indicators, signs and symptoms of abuse and its impact on families and individuals, identifying factors relevant to the case study, recognising and explaining current legislation making reference to Government reports/inquiries and research into failures to protect from harm and abuse. I will consider the policies and procedures that my work place use and I will identify some statutory and voluntary agencies and their roles in supporting those affected by abuse, relating specifically to the abuse of children.

For many of these reasons, male victims of CSA who are abused by a family member often do not disclose (Easton,

When people hear stories about sex offenders on the news, they often ponder what drives a person to sexually offend another human being. In this paper, I will discuss the topic of child molesters and what drives them to become the person they become. A child molester is a person—male or female—who touches or has sex with a child under the age of 18 (Lanning.1992). Many label child molesters with the picture of a messy old man, crinkly parka coat, sitting around the school play area with a sack of treat waiting to trap innocent little children. For a few, the kid molester is as more bizarre to his casualty and not a father having intercourse with his little girl. For others, the tyke molester is one who opens himself to or strokes youngsters

Crimes against children are considered the most outrageous and unforgivable. From a social standard, pedophilia is a sexual predator whose appetite is only satisfied when he or she consumes the innocence of a child. Law enforcement officers, who investigate crimes against children should be aware of the peculiar relationships often found between the predator and their victims. This paper will focus on a video interview of a person suspected of child molestation. This work will outline the characteristics of this individual and then attempt to provide a non-biased opinion of this subject’s typology.

Child sexual abuse is a significant public health problem. It is one that can causes toxic stress and results in multiple long-term health consequences, both human and financial costs, and a host of social problems. If government and the community work together, this monster of Carnal Abuse can be destroy. Children should not have to grow up in this nightmare; Mothers should not be worrying whether their child will be rape.