My Story of Sexual Abuse and Facts Behind a Troubling Crime

Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is any sexual contact with a child or the use of a child for the sexual pleasure of someone else. This can include exposing private parts to the child or asking the child to expose him or herself, fondling of the genitals or requests for the child to do so, oral sex or attempts to enter the vagina or anus with fingers, objects or a penis.

It is estimated that two out of every ten girls and one out of every ten boys are sexually abused by the end of their 13^th year of life.

Did you know that most children, who are sexually abused, are abused by a family member, member of the church or close friend?

Statistics of sexual abuse:
· 10% of those children are preschoolers.
· 85-90% involve perpetrator known to the child.
· 35% involve a family member.
· 50% of assaults take place in the home of the child or the offender.
· The average offender is involved with over 70 children during their life of offending.
(http://www.safechild.org/childabuse1.htm)

Behavioral indicators in child:
· Inappropriate displays of affection.
· Sexual acting out.
· Sudden reluctance to go someplace or be with someone.
· Uncomfortableness or rejection to typical family affection.
· Sudden use of sexual terms or new names for body parts.
· Sleep problems, including: insomnia, refusal to sleep alone, nightmares, or suddenly insisting on a night light.
· Extreme clinginess or other signs of fearfulness.
· Problems in school.
· A sudden change in personality.
· Regressive behaviors, including: thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, immature behaviors or other signs of dependency.
· Unwilling to participate in or change clothes for gym class at school.
· Bizarre or unusual sophistication pertaining to sexual behavior or knowledge.
· Runs away from home.
(http://www.safechild.org/childabuse1.htm)