NCJ Number
168032
Date Published
1995
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video, intended for both children and adults, dramatizes a young girl's effort to deal with her sexual abuse by a neighbor; it emphasizes the importance of child sexual abuse victims' telling a trusted adult about their abuse.
Abstract
Jenny is the only daughter of her single mother. Because her mother works, a neighbor couple, Betty and Sparky, often babysit Jennifer. In the course of babysitting, Sparky has fondled Jenny and persuaded her to let him take pictures of her in the nude. The video dramatization begins after the abuse has occurred; Jenny is keeping the abuse a secret due to the persuasive and threatening instructions of Sparky, but when her teacher and principal speak with her about her declining grades since the abuse, Jenny talks with her friend Deedee about the abuse. Deedee, whose mother has instructed her well in the importance of resisting unwanted sexual advances and telling an adult about such incidents, tries to persuade Jenny to tell her mother. Jenny expresses her fear of telling her secret. Sparky, the abuser, has convinced her that no one will believe her and that bad things will happen to her if she tells anyone about what he has been doing to her. When Deedee leaves Jenny's house, Sparky enters the house and begins making advances, wanting a hug from her. Deedee returns with her mother, and Sparky is told to leave. Subsequently, Jenny tells her mother about the abuse; her mother is understanding and assures Jenny that the abuse was not her fault and that Sparky will not bother her again. Sparky is taken into custody by police. Guidelines for a group discussion accompany the video.