"Since most sexual abuse begins well before puberty, preventive education, If is to have any effect at all, should begin early in grade school"- Judith Lewis Herman.
Introduction
Child Sexual Abuse, also known as child molestation, is any sexual activity with a child carried by an adult or older adolescent. If any adult or older child engages in sexual activity with a child is known as sexual abuse. It can have several different forms such as unwanted touching, giving threats, taking advantage of the child's silence, and the inability of a child to give consent. It is the state where the child cannot understand the sexual nature of the activity, where the child is forced for sexual stimulation (Including bodily contacts). Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males only. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse.
What are the two types of Child Sexual Abuse?
There are mainly two types of child sexual abuse that are as follows:
Touching- It includes directly touching the child's sensitive areas (Genitals), making the child touch someone else's genitals, trying to play sexual games.
Non-touching- It does not include contact, showing sexual images, watching the child or photographing a child in sexual poses.
Causes
There is not only one factor that is responsible for the child sexual abuse, but also involves different other factors responsible for this repulsive crime:
Exploitation
Exploitation is very common in commercial or household works, known as child labor, that sometimes lead to sexual abuse. Because the child is away from his/her family which makes the child more prone to sexual harassment, which directly affects the child's physical and mental health of a child.
Poverty
It is one of the primary causes of sexual abuse. Most of the cases of sexual abuse come from poor families. Poor and needy children become the victim of adult abusers, as they take advantage of their financial problems.
Lack of Education
Education is very important for a healthy and successful life, as it brings awareness, gives voice to the people but unfortunately children of poor families are denied education, which makes them more vulnerable as they are away from the protective reach of the school and support services.
Homelessness
Children who are homeless are more liable to have encountered sexual abuse. Domestic violence, sexual abuse, and other sorts of brutality are highly between homeless children.
Unemployment
This is a major cause of child sexual abuse, to cope with the stress of unemployment, people may engage in any form of abuse and sexual abuse is one of them.
Signs and symptoms
Each child responds to the sexual abuse differently, it is influenced by different factors such as how old a child is, what happened during the abuse, and most importantly who was doing the abuse, was the child was familiar with the abuser (example: A family member or a friend) or was unfamiliar to them. Sexual abuse significantly affects the child's mental, physical, emotional, and social well-being of the child. Different signs and symptoms are as follows:
The child is quieter or more distant than usual.
Starts having nightmares.
Becomes isolated.
Not doing well at school.
Difficulty walking or sitting.
Cries and becomes aggressive for no particular reason.
Lack of self-confidence or self-esteem.
Eating more or less.
Having sleeping problems.
Avoiding a particular group of people or places.
Effects of Child Sexual Abuse on the Child
Child sexual abuse is a disgusting act, where an innocent child goes through trauma, terror, fear, anxiety, depression, and isolation, which affects their overall functioning which includes physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being.
Physical
Exposure to child sexual abuse negatively impacts the physical health of the child. Some marks are visible on the skin such as bruises, open cuts/ wounds, or broken bones. Any physical sign of being slapped, kicked or punished. Physical consequences also include unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases warts and HIV-AIDS. These signs clearly show that there was a force from the abuser to the victim, where the child is mistreated to such an extent that these marks or scars will haunt them to life.
Emotional/ Mental
Sexual abuse includes physical as well as emotional or mental consequences. Such as the child becoming emotionally disturbed, upset, being extremely withdrawn, isolated as showing the signs of anxiety, depression, eating disorder- eating too much or too less and suicide attempts.
Social
The child faces difficulty forming healthy relationships with partners, parents, and friends. The child becomes unable to share their feelings as the child fears forming relationships because of the traumatic event that had happened to them, they socially withdraw themselves from society completely, avoiding meeting people or even places, even with their close people as fear of getting judged by people and likes to stay in isolation.
What can we do to prevent Child Sexual Abuse?
Spread awareness about child sexual abuse as much as you can, talk to people, gets involved in community-based preventive efforts.
Teach the child about Good and Bad Touch; tell them what is appropriate behavior and whatnot.
Pay attention to small things
Teach others about child abuse prevention.
Support child abuse victims; help them to talk, and them that it's not their fault.
Report suspected child abuse.
Conclusion
Child sexual abuse is a disgusting act that is not only a problem for one society, but for the whole world. The outcome of child sexual abuse can result in both short and long-term consequences encompassing social problems like withdrawal from society, emotional problems such as anxiety, fear, depression and cognitive problems. For instance, lack of concentration and difficulty in learning or speaking. Sexual child abuse ruins the life of the child both physically and psychologically which affects the health and overall personality of a child. It can lead to low self-esteem and self-harm and sometimes lead to suicide. Many victims are too young or too vulnerable to disclose their experiences or to protect themselves. Despite many legal provisions and child welfare organizations, this crime is increasing. Every person needs to step forward to stop it. There is a need for adequate child protection policies and preventive measures that protect the child from any type of abuse. Such policies will provide a safe place where a child can be kept and work for the development of the child.
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