Victims of Child Sexual Abuse
Child Sexual Abuse
The currency of child sexual abuse is hard to determine because it is generally not reported. Experts acknowledge that the incidence is far greater than what is reported to authorities. However, studies show that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys are victims of child sexual abuse. Throughout their lifetime, 28% of U.S. youth ages 14 to 17 have been sexually victimized, with children being the most vulnerable between the ages of 7 and 13.
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What is Child Sexual Abuse?
Child sexual abuse is a way of child abuse that includes sexual activity with a minor. All sexual touching between an adult and a child is sexual abuse. Under no circumstances can a child consent to any form of sexual activity. When a perpetrator interacts with a child this way, they commit a felony that can have lasting effects on the victim for their entire life. Child sexual abuse does not need to have physical contact between a perpetrator and a child.
Some forms of child sexual abuse include:
- Exhibitionism, or exposing oneself to a minor
- Fondling
- Masturbation in the presence of a minor
- Obscene phone calls, text messages, or digital interaction
- Exposing a child to pornography
- Sex trafficking
- Voyeurism, or trying to look at a child's naked body
- Intercourse
- Forcing an infant to masturbate
- Producing, owning, or sharing pornographic images or movies of children
- Sex of any kind with a child, including vaginal, oral, or anal
- Any other sexual conduct that is damaging to a child's mental, emotional, or physical welfare
Children of all ages, races, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds may experience sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse affects both girls and boys in all kinds of neighborhoods and communities. It is vital to recognize that abuse comes in many shapes, colors, and sizes – and that all damage is terrible.
What Do Criminals of Child Sexual Abuse Look Like?
Research demonstrates that the most significant risk to children doesn’t come from strangers, but from friends and family. People who abuse children look and act just like everyone else. Indeed, they usually go out of their way to seem trustworthy, seeking out settings where they can earn easy access to children, such as sports leagues, faith centers, clubs, and schools.
What are the Warning Signs of Child Sexual Abuse?
Child sexual abuse isn’t always easy to locate. The most common child sexual abuse is a gradual process and not a single event. The perpetrator could be someone you’ve known a long time, which may make it even more challenging to notice. Consider these warning signs.
Physical Signs
- Bleeding, bruises, or swelling in the genital area
- Bloody, torn, or stained underclothes
- Difficulty walking or sitting
- Frequent urinary or yeast infections
- Pain, itching, or burning in the genital area
Behavioral Signs
- Changes in hygiene, such as refusing to bathe or bathing excessively
- Develops phobias
- Exhibits signs of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder
- Nightmares or bed-wetting
- Self-harms
- Runs away from home or school
- Expresses suicidal thoughts, especially in adolescents
- Has trouble in school, such as absences or drops in grades
- Inappropriate sexual knowledge or behaviors
- Overly protective and concerned for siblings, or assumes a caretaker role
- Returns to regressive behaviors, such as thumb sucking
- Shrinks away or seems threatened by physical contact
Ovadia Law Group Is Here to Help
We understand the physical, emotional, and mental effects victims of child sexual abuse experience. You are not alone.
If you or a loved one is a victim of child sexual abuse, call Ovadia Law Group at 1-800-674-9396 for a discreet and confidential consultation with one of our sex abuse attorneys. We are here to help you in any way that we can.