White Paper For Vulnerable Children

Any victim of sexual abuse faces the chance of having their development impacted. This is especially true amongst children. Studies have proven that children who have been sexually abused by a female offender often have different developmental experiences (T.A. Gannon, 2008, p. 356). Mental illness is yet another impact that victims face. Many sexual abuse victims transpire into states of depression, rage, and suicide; they even have strained relationships with certain individuals (Denov, 2014, p.

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.

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse, this also includes via the internet. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males, Women and other children can also commit acts of sexual abuse. This type of abuse is usually committed by someone known to the victim not just by sexual predators. It is important to remember that boys as well as girls can also be the victim of sexual abuse. The signs of sexual abuse as with emotional abuse may not be outwardly visible, because of the shame and self-blame a child will have if this is happening or has happened to them, makes it very difficult for a child

Besides emotional abuse, physical abuse and neglect there is also sexual abuse. Studies show that 1 out of every 4 children will be the victim of sexual abuse before reaching 18. Sexual abuse can be physical, verbal, or emotional. There are many different types of sexual abuse. A stranger does not always commit the sexual abuse of a child; most often an adult that the child trusts commits the abuse. Sexual abuse by family members is the

It has been observed that sexually abused children tend to be less socially competent, more aggressive, and more socially withdrawn than non-abused children. A specific interpersonal effect of sexual abuse among children is that of increased sexual behavior. This is prominent when we were

Sexual Abuse Can be in many forms and can include contact or non contact, sexual

Child poverty can have many effects on children, one being health problems. A widespread method to family and community health is authoritative to provide children with the finest upbringing. Nonetheless, restricted access to health services and appropriate programs are often seen as serious. This could have been prevented with instant and continuing development. The number of families who are required to rely on emergency food sources, in a period of economic wealth is one example of the relationship between high costs of housing, food

Child sexual abuse involves a wide range of sexual activity. It may include fondling of the

Sexual abuse is a prevalent crime that can have numerous short and long term effects on a victim. It describes as any form sexual activity that is accomplished by force or threat where consent is not given. This includes rape, molestation, incest, and other similar forms of non-consensual sexual contact. The effects of sexual abuse are not the same for every victim, victims may feel varied responses and emotions that can depend on own situations. The act of abuse may had happened a long time ago or be more recent.

One of the most perverse traumas experienced by children is sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is an unfortunate reality for many children all over the world. Most

Some children are left to be watched by another family member or a friend of the family and get sexually abused by them. Sometimes children are forced to have sexual activities going on with an adult without the parents knowledge. That leaves the child to think that their parents really do not care for them. Children get scared when sexual abuse happens. Some will not tell, because they think they will get in trouble. Sexual abuse can hurt the child's as they get older in life.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) remains a severe and widespread societal problem in the United States. 62,939 cases of child sexual abuse were reported in 2012 (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). Though difficult to obtain concrete figures, it is estimated that approximately 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls are sexually abused before the age of 18 (American Psychological Association, 2011). CSA shows no prejudice with regard to social class, ethnicity, or other demographic variables. As discussed later, not only does CSA negatively impact the child presently and later in life-psychologically and behaviorally, but it also creates a burden on communities and mental and physical health care services.

Children are faced with many consequences due to growing up in poverty. Most children who live in poverty go to poor unsuitable schools, live in unexceptable housing, and grow up around more violence and crime than any other parent would wish for their child. As soon as the child is born into poverty, they begin to feel the effects of it. They tend to have low birth weight and contain a higher risk of dying during infancy. We watched a video in class that showed that poverty could take a toll on the child’s learning capabilities, and health status. There were stories of children with hyperactivity problems, chronic ear infections which caused hearing loss, and even children who were not receiving the proper amount of nutrients to be able to grow and function correctly. The first years of a child’s life are the most crucial because most of the development of the brain occurs then.

It is always so saddening to hear about sexual abuse especially when it involves a child, but many times there are more damaging psychological and emotional effects when a child is sexually abused. These effects can be short or long term and might not appear until later in life when the child has grown and understands what has happened. Events like these can alter a child’s perspective on life because sexuality is a big part of healthy development, but when it is important that sexuality occurs at the correct time of development and not in the form of sexual abuse.

Sexual abuse in children has an impact on their development in adulthood. As a result of this horrifying experience, victims may feel ashamed of themselves even though they are the victims and have done nothing wrong. Also victims have an inability to trust adults because someone they once trusted took advantage of them. They may feel defenseless and powerless. Sexual abuse never goes away, as much as an individual tries to block it, it will be a part of them for the rest of their lives.