New Sexual Abuse Campaign Implies that "Hand-Holding" is Suspicious

In Virginia, the "Stop It Now" campaign has a worthy cause. Its goal is to prevent the sexual abuse of children.

Founded in Massachusetts, a quote on their homepage makes their mentality clear: "If you have any doubt in your mind, then there is no doubt you should speak up."

Yet what qualifies as doubt is causing controversy, both in Virginia and nationwide. In an advertisement for the campaign, a man is shown holding hands with a girl, with a quote "It doesn't feel right when I see them together" and the number to call: 1-888-PREVENT

Many feel that the campaign is discouraging normal, healthy affection between a father and daughter. Others are calling it sexist, calling for a "witch hunt" against normal fathers.

The question remains. Is it suspicious for fathers to hold their daughter's hand?

Wayne Dewey, a father from Tucson, offers: "In crowded areas, especially parking lots, I make my daughter hold my hand to be safe."

One in four women and one in five men, according to a survey released by the health department in 2004, have been victims of sexual assault as children.

The "Stop It Now" program in Virginia is one of the efforts to lower these numbers.

According to Rebecca Odor, the director of the sexual and domestic violence prevention division for the Virginia Department of Health, the campaign hopes to spread the message that people report relatives or acquaintances to law enforcement.

"We want to teach them to trust their instinct and, if it doesn't feel right, take action," Odor said.

The campaign lasts a month and will cost Virginia tax payers $16,000. Radio spots and billboards will show advertisements like the controversial one mentioned previously.

Has it worked? According to the Virginia-Pilot, an evaluation of the campaign in Richmond revealed that those who heard the radio spots were three-times more likely than those who hadn't heard it to think that child sexual abuse is preventable. And that's great.

But many are worried that the campaign might lead to more harm than good.

"For every case of genuine abuse, there are two or three that are unfounded witch hunts," said Dean Tong.