The term sexual
abuse refers to the forced involvement of a young person below
the age of sixteen in sexual activity with an adult or significantly
older child. The abuse is never the fault of the child even
if they appeared to welcome or encourage it – a person
under the age of sixteen is not considered to fully understand
the implications and therefore not capable of consent. Sexual
abuse can also occur between two adults where one is in a
much more powerful position e.g. any sexual involvement between
a doctor and patient.
Sexual abuse can be a one-off or recurrent
event and can range from inappropriate touching to penetration.
The abuser may be anyone; male or female, relative or stranger.
Often the full impact of the abuse isn’t felt until
the victim reaches adulthood when they are more capable of
fully understanding what happened.
Sexual abuse is called incest when the perpetrator
is a member of the victims close or extended family.
Sexual abuse includes:
- Sexual touching and fondling.
- Exposing children to adult sexual activity including pornographic
movies and photographs.
- Having children pose, perform or undress in a sexual fashion
on film or in person.
- Peeping into bathrooms or bedrooms to spy on a child.
- Rape or attempted rape
- Non touching – e.g. exposing a child to pornography
or masturbating in front of a child.
- Touching – can include touching a child’s
genitals, oral sex, anal sex, penetration.
Long term effects of sexual abuse:
- Insomnia.
- Vagina and pelvic pain.
- Eating disorders.
- Lower back pain and chest pressure.
- Erection problems.
- Dizziness/fainting.
- Self-harming
- Chronic physical complaints.
Long term psychological symptoms of sexual abuse:
- Anxiety.
- Panic attacks.
- Low self-esteem
- PTSD
- Substance abuse
- Self-injury
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