NCJ Number
84971
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: Special edition (June 1982) Pages: 90-99
Date Published
1982
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the extent of father-daughter rape and reasons for it, based on Australian and American surveys and research.
Abstract
About 80 percent of sex crimes committed against children occur within the family, and 50 percent of the offenders are fathers. Virtually every writer in the field asserts that whatever is known of the total number of such cases in only 'the tip of the iceberg.' The problem of ascertaining the true incidence of girl-child rape derives from the daughter's inability to convince family members, doctors, and other professional helpers. Victims are often blamed for the attack or find it difficult to relate details of the incident. The most recent theory about father-daughter incest is that it occurs in 'dysfunctional' families. A common treatment approach is family counseling to 'save' the family. Experts believe that many teenage prostitutes and runaways are incest victims. Thus, it appears that society has had 'places' for daughter-victims for a long time, but the true function of these places has been camouflaged by silence. Five footnotes and 20 references are supplied.