Most parents love their children and express their love to them in many ways. They support them in their many endeavors, from learning to walk to adulthood. When you start to notice them to become withdrawn from others when they used to be very outgoing, you become concerned. When you notice that they have become hostile when they used to be calm, you become concerned. When they confess to you that they have been sexually abused, your world falls apart.
There are many forms of child abuse, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, educational abuse and child neglect (the most common form). However, sexual abuse in children seems to cause the most pain.
Sexual abuse comes in many forms. It includes vaginal and anal intercourse, violation of the young child’s privacy, exposure to adult sexuality, fondling and child exploitation. There are signs a parent or other adult can look for to determine if the child has been or is being sexually abused. These signs include the child knowing about and demonstrating inappropriate interest of sexual acts, the child being fearful of a certain person, refusal to undress in front of others, and demonstrating seductive behaviors.
According to Dr. Rollan Summitt, children tell about their sexual abuse in stages. These stages are secrecy, helplessness, entrapment, disclosure, and retracting.
In order to deter children from being sexually abused, parents should teach them about sexual abuse. This includes the rules for “good touch and bad touch,” empowering them to say “no,” and that it is alright to tell if it happens to them.
If parents find that their child is a victim of sexual abuse, they should make sure the child understands that it is not his or her fault, and counseling should be sought for the child.
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