forms of child sexual abuse, effects of child abuse

 forms of child sexual abuse, effects of child abuse

Sexual abuse is a grave reality that all over the world. Unfortunately, Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), in most cases, is misconstrued by most people to be a rare occurrence that is committed by male strangers on poor girls living in dilapidated conditions. (Alaggia, Collin-Vézina & Lateef, 2019). However, this is not the case; incidences of CSA is common across the world, and affects not only females but also boys. Additionally, CSA is not only limited to impoverished areas, but it happens anywhere. CSA also affects a wide variety of cultures from different social backgrounds. This essay will discuss forms of child sexual abuse, effects of child abuse,

There are different forms of child sexual abuse. Sexual abuse can either be in the form of seducing a close relative or can be committed violently by a stranger. Additionally, sexual abuse takes various forms, levels, and varies based on the situation it occurred under. It is also be categorized based on the relations one has with the victim (Peach, 2019). According to Dubowitz (2017), “sexual mistreatment happens every time one person dictates and abuses another individual by means of erotic activity or proposal.” Among the many forms of sexual abuse that occur during childhood, incest is the most common (Renvoize, 2017).

Other forms of sexual abuse include stroking the breasts of a minor, touching the genitals, sexually assaulting, raping, and incest or having anal sex (Renvoize, 2017). Sexual penetration of many can be either by using fingers, a penis, sexual objects, or exposing the private parts of the body (Peach, 2019).

The effect of sexual abuse varies from one person to the other or on a case to case basis. Research by 200018 compared the experience of women who were sexually abused by a member of a family with those who were abused by a stranger. The study found that females who were molested by a close family have higher rates of depression compared to those that were committed by a non-family member. The severity of abuse has serious effects on the patient, but the degree of damage experienced by the victim also influence the damages experienced by the victim. Other effects of CSA abuse is based on how the victim handles the situation, the resources they have, and the amount of support they receive (Renvoize, 2017).

Child sexual abuse can be perpetrated by either a male, a female, strangers, family members, or friends. It occurs when a minor is exploited by an adult for sexual satisfaction (Dubowitz, 2017). Sexual abuse also arises when a minor is exposed to phonographic materials or manipulating the minor to take nudes. Sexual abuse also occurs through touching the victim’s private parts and attempting to have sexual intercourse with the victim (Alaggia, Collin-Vézina & Lateef, 2019). Additionally, CSA includes harassing, intimidating, or taking unnecessary sexual photos (Renvoize, 2017). In other instances, victims of sexual abuse may not even understand that they are sexually abused.

Individuals who are sexually assaulted are widely affected by such acts. First, it takes away their innocence and negatively affects how they make decisions. It also leads an individual to have questionable lifestyles and poor decisions (Renvoize, 2017). The social life of the affected person and most of their engagements in life is also impacted negatively.

Media and Life Experiences

There was this girl in our neighborhood who used to keep to herself a lot. She always appeared dejected and could not engage in play like other kids her age. I tried on multiple occasions to reach out to her, but most times, she declined my requests. One day I decided to change tact; I decided to buy her gifts. When I presented the gifts, she at first declined, but I insisted, and she took them. I never asked her anything the first day, but I continued to buy her gifts whenever I had the opportunity. One day I invited her for lunch in our home, and she gladly accepted. I took the opportunity to ask her why she was always keeping to herself most. What she told me to send a chill down my spine.

The girl was living with her three siblings and her stepdad; she was the eldest. Unfortunately, her mother was not always around, which meant that she was responsible for taking care of her other siblings. Her stepdad was a habitual drunkard, and she used to come home late at night, dunk to stupor. The girl narrated that each time she came home drunk, he would rape her several times. He was not her biological father; this partly explains her beastly acts. The girl was devastated and was sopping uncontrollably while narrating her ordeal, yet she never knew what to do or where to go to seek help, she had been held captive by the constant threats imposed on her by her would-be father.

I took the girl to the hospital and rushed to report to the nearest police station while she was receiving treatment. I also notified the foster care home, who took up the matter with the authority. His stepdad was arrested and charged for sexually molesting her stepdaughter. Sadly, this is one of the many cases that go unreported each day. CSA is prevalent and requires immediate action to effectively address the issue.

I read a story about a girl who had a control freak boyfriend. The author narrates that at first, her boyfriend was friendly, but as time passed by, she started to dictate to her what to wear. He also wanted to know her whereabouts each time, even when she was with her friends. One thing led to another, and before she knew, he began raping her multiple times a day.

When she was young, her stepdad sexually abused her, she had informed her boyfriend about it, but she turned and used it against her. Each time he wanted sex, he would use that against her. He would always mention to her that she was willing to consent to her stepdad, but she was not giving in to his demands. Unfortunately, she never reported the incident to anyone, both when she was a child and now that she had grown up. Sadly this is the case in most sexual abuse cases. Most go unreported for various reasons. This also underscores the fact that immediate action should be taken to stem the menace. For instance, a toll-free hotline number must be set, and proper campaigns done to educate the public. People must also be encouraged to come forward and report any form of abuse. This includes the neighbors who may witness any strange happenings in the neighborhood should report to law enforcement officials, so that appropriate step is taken to address the issue; it could be someone suffering in silence and needs urgent help.