The sexual abuse of children: A comparison of male and female victims
Title:
The sexual abuse of children: A comparison of male and female victims
Author:
Farber, Edward D. Showers, Jacy Johnson, Charles F. Joseph, Jack A. Oshins, Linda
Appeared in:
Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology
Paging:
Volume 13 (1984) nr. 3 pages 294-297
Year:
1984
Contents:
Although estimates of the incidence of reported child sexual maltreatment vary greatly, most authors agree there is a predominance of female to male victims. Yet studies of sexual offenders suggest afar greater proportion of male victims than is reported. This study compared circumstances surrounding the abuse for boy and girl victims. A total of 81 reported cases of male sexual abuse over a 3 year period were matched to 81 females sexually abused during the same period. Although it was hypothesized that there would be significant differences between boy and girl victims of sexual abuse, this study revealed surprisingly few differences between factors associated with the abuse. The sex of the victim was not related to the relationship of the abuser, who referred the child, the number of abusers, the incidence of sexual abuse of other children or siblings, chronicity of abuse, the use of bribes or threats, or concurrent physical abuse. There was a greater incidence of physical evidence of sexual abuse among girls, and among boys there was a greater incidence of oral-gential contact. The lack of major differences between boy and girl victims suggests that offender variables, such as power over a helpless victim, may be more influential in choice of victim than sex of the child.