| This is not a topic that is typically | | | | unsuspecting children. However, that is |
| sought and read with fervor but if you | | | | not the reality according to national |
| are a parent or a person who loves any | | | | statistics. |
| child under the age of 18, then you need | | | | Another myth that must be dispelled is |
| to know the staggering statistics of | | | | that sexual abuse only happens to |
| child sexual abuse in the United States. | | | | socioeconomically disadvantaged |
| Different references provide different | | | | families, one-parent families or |
| statistics but the general consensus | | | | families with drug involvement. This |
| among the experts is that one in three | | | | simply is not true. Child sexual abuse |
| girls will be sexually abused before she | | | | occurs as much in rural areas, as in |
| reaches the age of eighteen and one in | | | | urban areas and cuts across all racial, |
| six boys will be molested before their | | | | ethnic and socioeconomic groups. There |
| 18th birthday. | | | | have been studies that show it is more |
| Do you really believe that with | | | | likely to occur within families who |
| statistics like these your children will | | | | isolate themselves from others, in |
| be somehow magically immune from the | | | | families where alcohol abuse is a factor |
| problem? No one wants to believe his or | | | | and in families where there has been a |
| her child is at risk. No one wants to | | | | generational history of abuse. |
| think that anything so ugly could happen | | | | Most perpetrators establish a long-term |
| in their family but the truth is that | | | | relationship with their victims. There |
| most victims are molested by someone | | | | is a grooming process that occurs. It |
| they know. According to Advocates for | | | | may start with preferential treatment, |
| Youth at a study done in three states | | | | providing gifts and special privileges |
| reveals 96% of reported rape survivors | | | | to earn a child's trust. The child may |
| under age 12 knew their attacker. | | | | not want to lose his or her special |
| Child Help statistics at report 30-40% | | | | status or the relationship with the |
| of children are abused by a family | | | | perpetrator so they go along as |
| member, while another 50% are abused by | | | | unwilling participants. If the child is |
| someone they know and trust outside the | | | | young enough, he or she may not even |
| family. Forty percent of children are | | | | know there is anything wrong with the |
| abused by older or bigger children whom | | | | perpetrator's behavior. |
| they know. (This is confirmed by | | | | There are also times when the |
| Advocates for Youth who found that | | | | perpetrator convinces the child |
| adolescents were the offenders in 50% of | | | | catostrophic events will occur if the |
| reported cases.) That leaves only 10% | | | | child tells. They may have threatened to |
| who are actually abused by a | | | | kill the child or the child's mother if |
| stranger.Children are typically abused | | | | the child tells. They may have |
| younger than most people think. Over 20% | | | | threatened to start abusing a younger |
| of victims are abused prior to their 8th | | | | sibling if the child tells. There are |
| birthday and 50% who suffer violent | | | | many reasons why your child may never |
| attacks, such as sodomy, rape with an | | | | share what is happening. |
| object, or forcible fondling are under | | | | According to Child Help, 30% of victims |
| twelve years-old. | | | | never disclose their abuse to anyone, |
| Also, a new statistic is emerging about | | | | while 75% end up disclosing |
| solicitation on the Internet. Child Help | | | | accidentally. Later, 20% who disclose |
| reports that one in five children is | | | | end up recanting. Children do not make |
| sexually solicited while surfing the | | | | up these stories. Statistics show |
| Internet! How much unsupervised time | | | | children only fabricate stories of |
| does your child spend on the Internet? | | | | sexual abuse ½% of the time. Believe |
| Do you think he or she knows enough to | | | | your child if he or she shares someone |
| not give out personal details to a | | | | has touched him or her inappropriately, |
| perpetrator online? Think again. | | | | even if it is someone you love. |
| Adult perpetrators are very good at | | | | A book that is designed to help parents |
| manipulating children into revealing | | | | educate their children about the dangers |
| information or victimizing them through | | | | of child sexual abuse is called, A Very |
| either bribes or threats. Most parents | | | | Touching Book by Jan Hindman. You can |
| know to educate their children not to | | | | get it from here: Please don't wait |
| talk to strangers. Parents want to | | | | until it's too late. Arm your child with |
| believe that it is some deranged | | | | information that can protect him or |
| pedophile who catches and molests | | | | herself. |