Most child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone known to the victim. Thus some health professionals suggest that many children can avoid being victimized if they are taught about their right to say no, the difference between "okay" and "not-okay" touches, and strategies for coping with an adult’s attempt to coerce them into inappropriate inti­mate […]

Much research suggests that child sexual abuse can be a severely traumatizing and emo­tionally damaging experience, with long-term negative consequences for many of the victims (Miner et al., 2006; Putman, 2009; Zwickl & Merriman, 2011). Clinical contact with adult survivors of child sexual abuse often reveals memories of a childhood filled with distress and confusion. […]

Before the emergence of the Internet, pedophiles were largely isolated. Now, with sev­eral pedophile support groups online, child molesters can exchange child pornography, discuss their molestation experiences, validate each other’s abusive acts, and secure rein­forcement for the shared belief that sexual interaction between adults and children is acceptable (Lambert & O’Halloran, 2008; Malesky & Ennis, […]

The media have reported numerous cases in which alleged perpetrators of sexual abuse have been accused and convicted based on the testimony of adult women who "recover" memories of their childhood sexual abuse. This "recovery" has usually occurred dur­ing psychotherapy. But can a person repress memories of sexual abuse that may have occurred years or […]

Evidence indicates that it is exceedingly difficult for children who are sexu­ally abused to reveal their victimization to others, especially adults. In spite of years of media revelations of abuse of children by members of the clergy, "the real shocker is remembering that most child sexual abuse victims aren’t connected to churches, don’t file lawsuits […]

No classic profile of the pedophile offender has been identified, other than that most pedophiles are heterosexual males and are known to the victim (Murray, 2000; Salter et al., 2003). Child molesters cover the spectrum of social class, educational achievement, intelligence, occupation, religion, and ethnicity. Evidence suggests that many pedo­phile offenders, especially those who are […]

Breast Ironing to Protect Girls From Sexual Victimization In some areas of West and Central Africa, female relatives attempt to protect girls from sexual abuse and rape by means of "breast ironing." When girls begin to develop breasts, older women, usually mothers, massage and pound their daughters’ newly forming breasts with heated, hard objects. This […]

The sexual (and physical and emotional) abuse of children in U. S. society and through­out the world is a problem of staggering proportions. Child sexual abuse can have long — lasting, painful effects. Consider the following: When I was 10, my mother remarried, and we moved into my stepfather’s house. When I was 11 he […]

The rape of a partner or friend can be a difficult experience for both partners and friends of rape survivors. To some degree, partners and close friends are also victimized by the assault. they may feel a range of emotions, including rage, disgust, and helplessness. they may also be confused and unsure about how to […]

Health professionals who work with rape survivors know that men are raped. Although the vast majority of rape victims are women, men are also targets of sexual aggres­sion, including rape (Coxell & King, 2010; Davies et al., 2006; Kassing et al., 2005). A 2007 survey conducted on American college campuses found that about 6% of […]