NCJ Number
193625
Journal
Journal of Sexual Aggression Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: 2001 Pages: 5-24
Date Published
2001
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This article examines child sexual abuse in residential childcare institutions in the United Kingdom and considers why personnel in these settings abuse children.
Abstract
The discussion notes that inadequate complaints and whistle blowing procedures insufficient staff screening, training, and supervision are among the responsible factors for child sexual abuse. However, the discussion focuses on the tactics that child abusers use to groom, entrap, and silence children and simultaneously to control and silence non-abusive staff. The discussion also considers these tactics within the concepts of Weberian rational-legal bureaucratic and charismatic power, as well as the location of some abusers in entrenched pedophilic networks. Other factors discussed include the enclosed and institutionalized nature of many residential children’s settings; the gendered, homophobic, and inadequate ways in which staff often address sexuality and sexual abuse; and children’s own beliefs about gender issues. The analysis concludes that it is important to consider structural and discursive factors along with the characteristics and tactics of abusers when examining the reasons for child sexual abuse in institutions, the inadequacy of current responses, and ways to solve the problem. Note and 66 references