NCJ Number
122470
Date Published
1987
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The author compares the findings of his study with those of the Badgley report regarding the incidence of child sexual abuse among Canadian women in general and among juvenile prostitutes in particular.
Abstract
Badgley surveyed a nationwide sample of Canadians regarding their sexual experiences during childhood and adulthood. Unwanted touching, manual interference, or further types of sexual assault prior to becoming 16 years old was experienced by about 15 percent of females and approximately 7 percent of the males. The author's study involved a mental health study of a random sample of 780 Calgary residents. After the Badgley Report, the author's sample was asked about childhood sexual abuse. Approximately 22 percent of women and 10 percent of men reported such abuse. In the author's study, mental health was measured by the Middlesex questionnaire. The highest scores on the mental health scale occurred disproportionately among the abused women. In both incidence and mental health symptoms, the findings of the author's study and the Badgley report were similar. Both Badgley and the author also conducted studies of juvenile prostitutes. Contrary to the Badgley study, the author found a disproportionate amount of childhood sexual abuse among the prostitutes. The author favors the criminalization of juvenile prostitution; whereas, Badgley does not.