CHILD ABUSE
| Myth: |
Child sexual abuse is more common in cities and occurs
rarely in rural areas where people know each other. |
| Fact: |
Child abuse takes place equally in rural and urban areas.
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| Myth: |
Only adults commit child sexual abuse. |
| Fact: |
Among males in custody or on probation for a sexual
offence in British Columbia in 1993, one in six was a
youth. |
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| Myth: |
Children "ask" for these actions by being
"seductive" or by "consenting" to
the sexual acts. |
| Fact: |
Children are never responsible for being abused; when
an adult instigates sexual contact, informed consent is
impossible for a child. |
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| Myth: |
Alcohol or drugs are usually to blame. |
| Fact: |
This frequent defense by child sexual abusers is rarely
the cause. The abuser may use alcohol and drugs to lower
inhibitions of the victim. |
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| Myth: |
Child sexual abuse is rare and only involves girls. |
| Fact: |
Research suggests that 30 per cent of girls and 15 per
cent of boys are subjected to some form of sexual abuse
by the age of 18. |
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| Myth: |
Child sexual abusers are all homosexuals. |
| Fact: |
Abusers can be homosexual or heterosexual. |
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| Myth: |
Child sexual abusers are mostly lower income. |
| Fact: |
Abusers come from all income, Education, and intelligence
levels. |
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| Myth: |
Child sexual abuse is often an isolated incident, it
only happens once. |
| Fact: |
Once a child is abused, incidents often occur repeatedly,
especially if the offender is known to the child or other
family members. |
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| Myth: |
Child sexual abuse occurs through a violent attack. |
| Fact: |
Child sexual abuse is a situation that usually develops
over time. The offender develops a relationship
of trust with the child before making any type of advance,
therefore subtle coercion rather than extreme force is
often used. |
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| Myth: |
Children will fabricate stories about sexual abuse. |
| Fact: |
Children rarely fabricate stories of sexual abuse.
Falsely reporting sexual abuse can be an indicator of
another problem the child is unable to express. |
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| Myth: |
Child sexual abuse prevention education does more harm
than good. |
| Fact: |
When programs are age appropriate so that children are
not frightened, they give children specific information
about what an adult they know might do, and what action
they can take to take control of their bodies. |
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Women’s Defense Center, 2002; Dept of Health and
Human Services |
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Other facts:
- 90% of prisoners were maltreated as children.
- Child haven research study, 1986
- Children exposed to abuse or neglect are five times more
likely to grow up violent.
- National Institute of Justice, 2000
- The LA County Department of Children and Family Services
(DCFS) Child Abuse Hotline receives an average of 16,500
calls per month.
- www.dcfs.co.la.ca.us/wdcfs/Cahl.Ercp.htm
2002
- From January to August 2002, DCFS responded to 10,524
reports of child sexual abuse, 21,622 reports of physical
abuse, 25,490 reports of emotional abuse, and 42,446 reports
of child neglect
- County of LA DCFS, 2002
- A study of 482 children with documented maltreatment
evaluated at the Center for Abused Handicapped Children
at Boys Town Research Hospital in Omaha, NE, revealed that
more than half (53.4%) of the deaf children reported being
sexually abused.
- Sullivan, P.M., Vernon, M., & Scanlan, J., 1987.
"Sexual abuse of deaf youth." American Annals
of the Deaf, 132, 256-62.
To report child abuse and to obtain referrals to local agencies,
contact the Child Abuse Hotline, 24 hours.
Within California: 1-800-540-4000,
Outside California: 213-283-1960, TDD: 1-800-272-6699
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