Sexual Abuse in Boys and Girls and Its Implications Essay (Critical Writing)

Introduction

Child sexual abuse denotes the relations where a child is used for sexual spur of an offender or a viewer. Cossins (2010) defines child sexual abuse through the use of various forms, such as “incest, pornography, prostitution, trafficking, corruption, and peer sexual assault” (p. 7). A fundamental distinctive feature of any mistreatment is feeling of shame, depression, or oppression of an abused child. Children, as a result of their age, cannot give a reasonable consensus to sexual activity. The analysis of this paper will be the scrutiny of sexual abuse on boys relative to girls and its implications on children (Collin-Vézina, & Hébert, 2005). The first stage of the contemporary study of child sexual abuse was not prompted by annotations on child victims, but by the self-confessions of grown-ups who had the valor to overtly give witness to their exploitation as children. These self-proclaimed primary victims had regularly been the dupes of incestuous mistreatment of the unrefined sort, and reasonably accredited many of their existing individual hitches to their sexual abuse as children (Cossins, 2010). This differs from the advent of child abuse as a research concern compelled by the annotations of specialists compassionate for the mistreated children. The behavior of sexually abused boys and sexually abused girls differs as girls become shyer and even ashamed while boys start making sexual remarks in a rather rude form. However, parents may fail to notice this change due to the absence of the experience in intra- and extrafamilial sexual abuse, which differently affects girls and boys (Estes, & Tidwell, 2002). Therefore, the research should be directed at considering the signs of child sexual abuse, whether the differences and similarities exist, and how it is possible to recognize those. The increased national and international cases of sexual abuse of boys should be used for considering the actual specific setting that enclosed the disclosure of child sexual abuse as a completely too collective happening in the lives of children.

Literature Review

Having conducted a literature review of various sources, it is concluded that most of the studies are directed at sexual abuse of girls; however, a number of sexually abused boys increases. Recent studies in Kenya show that every day out of ten cases of child abuse, six of them are cases of boys’ abuse (Ruto, 2009). Recently, girls were more prevalent in sexual abuse than boys, but the time passed, and boys became more vulnerable and lacked the proper mechanisms and organizations to channel the grievances to the government and society at large. A case study dates back to 2010, where four secondary school boys were found dead in Western Province in Kenya, and their genitals mutilated after an assault by unknown assailants who escaped after the ordeal, but later apprehended and charged with child abuse (Sturt, 2008). The increased cases of boys’ sexual abuse might increase the cases of using a weapon, however, a conducted research has not supported this hypothesis (Leeb, Barker, & Strine, 2007).

The mass and social media are the best avenues to pass messages about the cessation of child abuse, both boys and girls, and the consequences of such acts once brought to book or the charges that may arise from such an evil act. Social networks like Facebook and Twitter are widely used by this young generation, and hence are a robust platform where a large group can be met and educated on how to protect them once in such a situation or once faced with a child molester (Spiegel, 2009).

Further research shall encompass all children and teenagers in the communities at large so as to cover all the aspects of the research and get a wider view of the subject at hand. In most cases, Primary School children are the affected group of sexual abuse, both the girls and boys since their age are believed to be unaware of sexual activities and abuse (Gover, 2004). Children are to understand what antisocial behavior and sexual and substance abuse means (Bergen, Martin, Richardson, Allison, & Roeger, 2004), therefore, the greater scope is to be considered.

Many children face all these problems of sexual abuse because they lack the basics and general knowledge on sexual activities and this may at times compel them to indulge in the act just out of curiosity on what sexual activity is all about (Gartner, 2007). Society’s mandate is to support the program through strong activism and regulation prohibiting such behavior. There should also be promotion of life skills education initiatives for teenage boys and girls on strong individual relations, gender parity, non-violent conflict resolution and liable sexual behavior. As one of the recommendations, some of the programs should be initiated to curb the problem of sexual abuse not only the girls but also the boys since the vice is presently prevalent in both genders and the campaign should also be directed towards both sexes. This ensures parity and equity in eradication of this social vice. The social consequences which affect boys who are sexually abused relate to their fellow counterparts and influence the risk of boys involvement into pregnancy issues (Anda et al., 2001).

Recommendations and Conclusion

The ethical side of the problem may prevent to get objective and full information about the cases of abuse as childrn may refuse to speak about the issue with strangers. Parents may also prevent the research conduction due to their ethocal considerations and refusal to allow their chilsren speak with strangers about sexual abuse. Apart from the ethical dilemma, the future research may lack sufficient funds and lack commitment by the government and stakeholders to protect or safeguard children’s rights or neglect by the parents or guardians to keep watch of their children’s activities.

There is an inordinate necessity for development groups, stakeholders and the government at large to come together and address the issues related to child neglect and abuse. Working with boys and girls to uphold gender parity and child involvement is not only imperative but is essential to bring about an archetype shift in socialization practices and organizations (Hébert, Tremblay, Parent, Daignault, & Piché, 2006). Such a shift leads to a more comprehensive and participatory culture that safeguards the rights of all human beings and condemns all systems of violence against children both boys and girls.

Organizations need to make cognizant efforts to embrace in all fields of their work machineries that fight gender discernment, the sexualization of children and prevailing practices of virilities. Groups also need to reinforce their efforts to address the foundation of child right desecrations. It is essential to highpoint and underpin the efforts of boys and men who contest customary and conventional gender roles in societies, those who question gender discernment, sexual violence against girls and boys in certain and viciousness in overall (Mantāphōn, 2007).

References

Anda, R. et al. (2001). Abused boys, battered mothers, and male involvement in teen pregnancy. Pediatrics, 107(2), e19.

Bergen, H., Martin, G., Richardson, A., Allison, S. & Roeger, L. (2004). Sexual abuse, antisocial behavior and substance use: gender differences in young community adolescents. Aust N Z J Psychiatry, 38(1), 34-41.

Collin-Vézina, D. & Hébert, M. (2005). Comparing dissociation and PTSD in sexually abused school-aged girls. Journal of nervous & mental disease, 193(1), 47-52.

Cossins, A. (2010). Protecting Children from Sexual Violence: A Comprehensive Approach. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.

Estes, L. & Tidwell, R. (2002). Sexually abused children’s behaviors: impact of gender and mother’s experience of intra- and extra- familial sexual abuse. Family Practice, 19(1), 36-44.

Gartner, R. B. (2007). Beyond Betrayal: Taking Charge of Your Life after Boyhood Sexual Abuse. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.

Gover, A. (2004). Childhood sexual abuse, gender, and depression among incarcerated youth. Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol December, 48(6), 683-696

Hébert, M., Tremblay, C., Parent, N., Daignault, I. & Piché, C. (2006). Correlates of behavioral outcomes in sexually abused children. Journal of family violence, 21(5), 287-299.

Leeb, R., Barker, L. & Strine, T. (2007). The effect of childhood physical and sexual abuse on adolescent weapon carrying. Journal of Adolescent Health, 40(6), 551-558.

Mantāphōn, W. (2007). Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse of Children. Hoboken: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.

Ruto, S. J. (2009). Sexual Abuse of School Age Children: Evidence from Kenya. Journal of International Cooperation in Education, 12(1), 177-192.

Spiegel, J. (2009). Sexual Abuse of Males: The SAM Model of Theory and Practice. Texas: Psychology Press.

Sturt, S. M. (2008). Child Abuse: New Research. New York: Nova Publishers.