CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
...ers, 1975, P. 114). This might be because of the fact that men feel more embarrassed to admit that they are victims of sexual abuse. Men tend to keep their emotions to themselves. However, girls tend to express how they feel and it is easier for them to confide in someone about what happened to them. Furthermore, the offenders can be men or women, but are more often men, which is more understandable when a boy will be to ashamed to tell someone he was abused by a man. Just like any child can become a victim of sexual abuse, any adult no mater race, profession, or class can sexually abuse children. It is commonly said that most sexual abusers were also victims of child abuse. It is not surprising that a victim of sexual abuse knows his or her offender. Findings have shown the majority of sexual abusers are with in the family. Although a stranger could also be the perpetrator, it is not as common as either a family member or family friend. Furthermore, it does not have to be an adult who is the abuser. “Adolescents and teenagers are also capable of abusing children, including their own brothers and sisters” (Kinnear, 1995, P. 17). Children remain quiet for a long period of time about their abuse because they are either threatened by the abuser or are promised something in return. For instance, the abuser might threaten the child by saying he would kill him or her. The adult usually tells the child that no one Child Sexual Abuse Paper 5 would understand their relationship, and it would best not to tell anyone about it. The most common thing an abuser would tell his or her victim is that they are ‘special’. By saying that the child is special, it leaves the child with the burden of guilt in the years to come. Now that we have had an inside look on what are the causes of child sexual abuse, let us now see how it affects those who have been abused. Children and adolescents who have been abused may either show their anger through their behavior or due to the problems they have psychologically. These problems can range from mild to severe, in either short term or long term effects which may include depression, anxiety, rage, guilt, fear, sexual dysfunction and acting out. When a child has been sexually victimized, one of the short term effects may occur after 2 years of the termination of the abuse (Layman 34). Some of these effects may include loss of toilet training, thumb sucking, nightmares and lack of motivation to perform in school or social activities. As the child grows, the traumatic memories may affect his or her young years and in to their adulthood. Adults who have been affected because of sexually abuse may become alcoholics or drug addicts. This might be because the victim wants to “forget” about his or her painful memories and believes drugs and alcohol will help him or her erase the memories temporarily. The victims may feel as if drugs and alcohol help them escape, but in reality it is doing harm to them. Also, some victims develop an eating disorder. “If we perceive obesity to be unattractive, and if we believe we were abused because we were attractive, we may overeat in a misguided attempt to defend ourselves from further assault”. (Survivors of Incest Anonymous par. 3). Furthermore, sexual abuse as a child affects adult’s relationships towards others and his or her sexual function. Child Sexual Abuse Paper 6 Also, it has been studied that victims who were sexually abused as children were more likely to be the victims of rape. These victims were also thought to be involved in physically abusive relationships as adults (Kinnear 59). One of the biggest effects that is associated with sexual abuse is the emotional problems that the victim lives with. The victim will not know how to trust a person, and will probably avoid intimacy until he or she learns to cope with their horrific experience. Child sexual victims feel betrayed; the person who harmed them was someone they thought he or she could trust. For example, girls who had been sexually abused by their fathers tended to become promiscuous at an early age. These girls feel betrayed by their fathers and therefore engage in sexual acts without caring what could happen to them. In addition, many victims will lack self esteem. A man, who did not give his name, spoke of his sexual abuse by his grandfather. He wrote: “Lasting effects of child sexual abuse sometimes makes me feel unworthy and of no value. Often I feel like I have a hard time fitting into this world and finding my place” (Lasting Effects of Child Sexual Abuse par.4). Because of the emotional effects that were left behind, many victims are not able to distinguish sex from affection and non-sexual love. It is believed...