NCJ Number
90224
Date Published
1982
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper identifies some of the myths surrounding child sexual abuse, the cultural roots of such abuse in Australia, and some findings on child sexual abuse based on one caseworker's experience.
Abstract
Some common myths about child sexual abuse are that children are in most danger from strangers, public areas are the most dangerous for children, and the attacker is usually a disheveled man smelling of liquor. These myths are proven false by evidence that children are most often raped and molested by family members, most often the father, in a home. Offenders represent a cross section of socioeconomic and occupational classes. Even when it is accepted that the aggressor is a family member, other myths are brought into play. Such myths are that (1) children fantasize to satisfy their early sexual instincts, (2) little girls are often sexually promiscuous, and (3) fathers who sexually molest their daughters are sexually dissatisfied with their wives. These myths are undermined by evidence that what is regarded as sexually suggestive behavior by a female child most often follows sexual advances by the family member. Further, there is no indication that the mother's sexuality is a factor in the abuse of a child. It is the male sexuality, the need for power, and male perceptions of the female role that underlie the offender's behavior. This can be traced to a patriarchal political system, the patriarchal legal system, the patriarchal health and welfare systems, and even a patriarchal church. Current methods of state intervention are inadequate and frequently lead to the institutionalization of the victim rather than the removal of the offender from the home. Arrangements for the child very seldom reflect the wishes of the child. Five references are provided.