In light of the Sandusky verdict Tuesday, it might be
tempting for us to try to put the entire scandal, the entire hideous thought of
what happened in that town behind us. But I’d like to take this opportunity to
remind everyone that that was just one case out of thousands. That every day in
our country there are thousands of children, thousands of victims, millions of
survivors, living out the same terrible life story as Sandusky's victims.
I am not here to debate the sentence, not here to give
voice to Sandusky via his statement, not to rehash the case or trial. I am here
only to ask what of the others and where do we, as a society, go from here? As
Judge John Cleland told Sandusky at his sentencing “The crime is
not only what you did to their bodies but to their psyches and their souls and
the assault to the well-being of the larger community in which we all
live."
“The larger community in which we all live?” Offenders do
not offend in a bubble. They do not offend only their victims. It is time for
the larger community to see this not as an individual crime, not as a family
issue, but as a public safety issue, as a societal ill that every single person
can help to eradicate if only… if only they grasp the reality of the problem,
if only they are willing to stop turning away at the terrible thought of what
is happening to children, if only they will stand up with the person next to
them and say, “enough! – I’ve had enough and I am going to do something about
it.”
Although the following
statistics1 are not easy to read, please take
this step and learn about child sexual abuse and exploitation. When we open our
eyes to the truth we become better educated and can begin to address this societal
epidemic and put an end to it.
What is Child Sexual Abuse?
· Child sex abuse includes body contact, such as kissing and
oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Sex abuse can also include “flashing” or showing
private parts, forcing children to watch pornography, voyeurism (trying to look
at a child’s naked body), pressuring children for sex, having sex in front of
children, and exploiting children for pornography or prostitution.
· “Child-on-child sexual abuse” occurs when a prepubescent
child is abused sexually by another child or children. Often, the child
perpetrator has been sexually victimized by an adult previously. “Inter-sibling
abuse” occurs when one sibling molests his/her own sibling.
How common is it really?
· In the United States, approximately 1 out of every 4 girls
and 1 out of every 6 boys is sexually abused.
· Approximately 1.3 million children in America are sexually
assaulted each year. There are an estimated 60 million survivors of childhood
sexual abuse in America.
· A 2004 study revealed that 9.6% of public school children,
accounting for 4.5 million students, have experienced sexual misconduct, from
being told sexual jokes to sexual intercourse by educators. Offenders include
teachers (18%), coaches (15%), substitute teachers (13%), principals (6%), and
student counselors (5%).
How does it affect victims?
· Sexual abuse, or any kind of abuse, negatively and
permanently affects the physical development of a child’s brain. These physical
changes result in psychological and emotional problems in adulthood.
· Women who were sexually abused as children reported
significantly lower SAT test scores than women who were not abused.
Is most abuse reported?
· Most children do not tell anyone they have been abused,
and those who do tell often have to tell several people before any action is
taken.
· It is estimated that less than half of all sexual assaults
on children are reported to the police.
· Children may not reveal sexual abuse because they feel
shame or guilt, they worry no one will believe them, they fear being removed
from their home, and they or their family may have been threatened. Very young
children may not have the language skills to report the abuse or may not
understand they are being abused.
· The generally lower rate for male sex abuse may be largely
inaccurate due to underreporting. Because men are traditionally encouraged to
be physically strong and competitive, male victims may be more hesitant to
report sexual abuse because they feel they are “less of a man.”
Who are the abusers?
· According to the APA, women are the abusers in about 14%
of cases reported among boys and 6% of cases reported among girls.
· Male offenders who abused girls have an average of 52
victims each. Men who molested boys had an average of 150 victims each.
· Approximately 23% of reported cases of child sexual abuse
are perpetrated by individuals under the age of 18.
· Approximately 60% of sexual abusers are known to the child
but are not family members, such as family friends, babysitters, or neighbors.
· Approximately 30% of sexual abusers are family members,
such as fathers, mothers, brothers, uncles, or cousins.
· Researchers estimate that 20 million Americans have been
victims of parental incest as children.
Child Pornography
· Child pornography is one of the fastest growing Internet
businesses, increasing at an average 150% per year for each of the last 10
years. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reports
that it has reviewed more than 51 million child pornography images and videos.
· There is a clear link between possession of child
pornography and the actual violation of children. The NCMEC estimates that 40%
or more of people who possess child pornography also sexually assault children.
· Of the arrests for the possession of child pornography
during 2000-2001 in the U.S., 83% had pornographic materials of children
between ages 6 and 12, 39% had material involving children between ages 3 and
5, and 19% had material of toddlers under the age of 3 or infants.
Pedophiles & Child Molesters
· Not all pedophiles are child molesters, and some child
molesters do not meet the clinical definition of a pedophile. Pedophilia is a
clinical term that describes a person who has had repeated arousing fantasies,
sexual urges, or behaviors related to sexual activities with children for at
least six months. Pedophiles do not necessarily have to act on their urges.
Child molesters have the same attraction to children, but they act on their
urges.
· According to Dr. Herbert Wagemaker, an estimated 4% of the
population suffers from sexual attraction toward children.
· The re-arrest rate for convicted child molesters is 52%.
· Between 250,000 – 500,000 child molesters reside in the
U.S. today.
· Child molesters come from all backgrounds and social
classes. However, most molesters (1) are male, (2) work in an environment
surrounded by children, (3) befriend the parents first and then gain the
child’s trust, and (4) attend events such as sports, camping, and video
arcades.
· According to the FBI, approximately 1 in 10 men have
molested a child, with little chance of being caught (3%). Additionally, the
FBI estimates that a child has almost a 25% chance of being molested.
· The FBI estimates that there is a sex offender living in
every square mile in the United States.
It is our hope that the
legacy of Jerry Sandusky, for both his victims and for the community at large
will be one of “education and empowerment.” Prevent Child Abuse America
published a “Call to Action” Tuesday
that we hope every American Citizen will read and we are happy to share it!
Every American citizen needs
to get involved and act to protect all children whether it affects us personally
or not. All children deserve to be safe
from sexual assault and exploitation. And all adults can either be a part of the
problem or a part of the solution. Today, now, you get to make the choice. Please follow our blog and Facebook page to
learn more and become a partner with us to protect all children! Thank you for your bravery and your
dedication!
1 http://facts.randomhistory.com/child-sexual-abuse-facts.html
