Ninety percent (90%) of residents surveyed in three Massachusetts communities believe that child sexual abuse is a serious problem in the Commonwealth.
In 2003, several public opinion surveys about child sexual abuse were conducted for the Enough Abuse Campaign by the University of Massachusetts Poll and Massachusetts Kids Count. These surveys inform us about the public’s knowledge of the nature and scope of the problem and their willingness to take action to prevent it.
Survey findings
are helping the Enough Abuse Campaign develop effective media messages, refine
community education programs and engage more adults in local prevention efforts.
With this knowledge, Massachusetts policy makers and concerned citizens are
working together to build a movement to eliminate child sexual abuse, community
by community.
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ENOUGH SHAME
Nearly eight out of ten Massachusetts residents now know that children are most likely to be sexually abused by an adult family member, friend or acquaintance rather than by an adult stranger.
It’s hard to face the truth, that in over ninety percent of cases of child sexual abuse, the abuser is a person the child and family know and trust. Sadly, over a third of these abusers are parents or close relatives of the victim. Nearly sixty percent of abusers are adults with whom children come in contact as they participate in school, sports, recreational, social or religious activities. Harder still to face is that older children are involved in sexually offending behavior against younger children in a significant number of cases.
If someone is involved
in child sexual abuse or in behaviors with children that appear inappropriate
or
suspicious, the most important thing family members or friends can do for them
and the children they may be hurting, is to get them to stop. For more information
about identifying behaviors that may be inappropriate, go to GET
THE FACTS.
Help is now available in Massachusetts through a growing network of trained
professionals who provide sex offender-specific treatment for both adult and
adolescent offenders. Studies show that many offenders who complete specialized
treatment do not go on to commit other sexual offenses. With ongoing appropriate
support and supervision from trained professionals and their loved ones, these
individuals can be prevented from reoffending.
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ENOUGH HURT
Fifteen percent (15%) of Massachusetts residents responding to a telephone opinion survey stated that they had been a victim of sexual abuse as a child.
While some respondents to the survey acknowledged a history of abuse, research tells us that many more of those surveyed were likely also victims of child sexual abuse but chose not to divulge such highly personal information. What we do know is that the scope of the problem is significant – one in four girls and one in six boys are estimated to have experienced sexual abuse by their eighteenth birthdays.
The effects of sexual abuse on children, whether from touching and/or non-touching offenses, can be devastating and long-term, especially when child victims are not identified or when timely and effective treatment is not provided. Sexually abused children can experience chronic feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, depression, impaired trust, self-blame, self-destructive behavior, and low self-esteem. Many continue to suffer these feelings and other harmful effects into adulthood.
When we prevent child abuse
from happening in the first place or identify victims early on, we can significantly
change these outcomes. Every child in Massachusetts has the right to a healthy
childhood free from the trauma of sexual abuse and to an adulthood free
from
its potentially devastating consequences.
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ENOUGH
CONFUSION
Eighty-five percent (85%) of Massachusetts residents believe that child sexual abuse CAN be prevented.
The vast majority of sexual abusers are nice, likeable and socially adept people whom we know and trust. One need only read the daily newspaper to learn that those who sexually abuse children are most often described by those around them as loyal friends, good employees and responsible members of the community. In a process referred to as “grooming”, sexual abusers frequently work to create trusting relationships not only with children but also with the parents of their selected victims. Many abusers are drawn to settings where they have easy access to children and can begin this grooming process without raising suspicion.
Given that abusers are skilled
in deception and manipulation, how can we identify those individuals who threaten
our children’s safety? Research shows that most people cannot reliably
tell when someone is lying or engaged in deceitful behavior – though most
people mistakenly believe they can.
No one has identified a foolproof checklist of behaviors that can definitely
spot a potential offender. However, in the GET THE FACTS section of this web
site, there are behavioral signs that parents and caregivers can learn about
to help them be more vigilant in protecting their children.
In her book Predators: Pedophiles, Rapists and Other Sex Offenders:
Who They Are, How They Operate and How We Can Protect Ourselves and Our Children,
Dr. Anna C. Salter suggests that concerned
adults, parents and professionals can learn to combine “detection”
strategies – those that focus on adults who interact with children -
with
“deflection” strategies – those that focus on assessing the
relative risk of circumstances and situations in which children are placed.
Combined with specific prevention messages shared early and often with children
by their parents, child sexual abuse can be stopped.
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ENOUGH
DENIAL
Forty-eight
percent (48%) of Massachusetts residents said they would be willing to participate
in local trainings to learn more about child sexual abuse and how to prevent
it.
The Enough Abuse Campaign can help caring adults gain the knowledge and skills
they need to successfully confront and end child sexual abuse in their homes
and communities.
Through local community meetings and trainings, the Campaign can teach you: