|
National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NAASCA Highlights
EDITOR'S NOTE: Occasionally we bring you articles from local newspapers, web sites and other sources that constitute but a small percentage of the information available to those who are interested in the issues of child abuse and recovery from it.
We also present original articles we hope will inform the community ... |
.
 |
|
Protecting Your Children: Advice from Child Molesters
Developed and written by child molesters
in treatment at The Center for Behavioral Intervention in Beaverton, Oregon.
March, 2014 ...... Please also see: 10 Reasons Parents Don't Discuss Child Sexual Abuse |
What is Child Sexual Abuse?
Child molestation usually begins with a sex offender gaining a child’s trust and friendship. The
offender then begins “testing” the child’s ability to protect himself by telling sexual jokes,
engaging in horseplay, back rubs, kissing or sexual games.
If the child appears comfortable or curious about this type of behavior, (and most healthy,
normal children are) the offender will slowly increase the amount and type of touching to
include more direct sexual touching. Child sexual abuse can include exposing, fondling,
masturbation, oral sex, intercourse and pornography.
Many children do not understand that what is happening is sexual or wrong. Most offenders
know that if they physically harm a child while molesting her, the child will be more likely to
tell. They are also clever enough to make the child feel as if she is actually responsible for the
contact. Children become trapped and are unable to tell anyone what is happening.
Research has demonstrated that most of our school-based child abuse prevention programs do
not prevent children from being abused and have little impact on reporting. The reason for the
lack of impact on abuse is that children are not in a good position to protect themselves from
adults, especially if the adult offender is a parent or caretaker. Given the way child molesters
operate, it is imperative that adults, not children, become educated about child abuse, supervise
their children more closely and take action if they suspect someone of abusing a child.
Parents, schools, churches and community groups must also work together to develop
prevention programs that incorporate parent training into prevention programs and encourage
reporting.
The information in this article was compiled and written by several sex offenders in treatment4
with the Center for Behavioral Intervention (C.B.I.).
Who Are Child Molesters?
Research indicates that 25% of children are sexually abused prior to their 18th birthday. Most
children are molested by someone they are related to or know very well like relatives, neighbors
or family friends. One study indicated that one out of every ten men has molested a child.
Despite the high rate of child sexual abuse, only 16% of child victims are able to tell someone
that they are being abused and only 3% of sex offenders are caught and prosecuted. Most
offenders are able to “get away with” molesting children for years before they are reported to
law enforcement.
What these facts tell us is that all parents, caretakers and community members must educate
themselves about sexual abuse and child molesters in order to improve their ability to protect
children. It is important for people to understand how “normal” child molesters look and how
easily they can gain access to children, isolate them and manipulate them into thinking the
abuse is “ok.”
Offenders also make children feel guilty and responsible for the abuse. These dynamics make it
very hard for children to tell anyone what is happening to them. We hope this brochure will
help you protect children from people who molest and abuse children.
Who is the typical child molester?
 I am probably well known and liked by you and your child.
I can be a man or a woman, married or single.
I can be a child, adolescent or adult.
I can be of any race, hold any religious belief, and have any sexual preference.
I can be a parent, stepparent, relative, family friend, teacher, clergyman, babysitter or anyone
who comes in contact with children.
I am likely to be a stable, employed, respected member of the community.
My education and my intelligence don’t prevent me from molesting your child. |
I can be anybody. Parents can defeat me if they work together. Educate yourself, your family
and your community.
How Do Child Molesters Gain Access to Your Child?
It is very easy to gain access to your child.
I pay attention to your child and make him feel special.
I present the appearance of being someone you and your family can trust and rely on.
I get to know your child’s likes and dislikes very well.
I go out of my way to buy gifts or treats your child will like.
I isolate your child by involving him in fun activities so we can be together—alone.
If you are a single parent, I may prey on your fears about your child lacking a father figure or a stable home life.
If my career involves working with children, I may also choose to spend my free time helping children or taking them on “special outings” by myself.
I take advantage of your child’s natural curiosity about sex by telling “dirty” jokes, showing her pornography and by playing sexual games.
I will probably know more about what kids like than you do: (music, clothing, video games, language, etc.)
I make comments like, “Anyone who molests a child should be shot!” or “Sexually abusing a kid is the sickest thing anyone can do.”
If I am a parent, it is even easier for me to isolate, control and molest my own children. I can sexually abuse my children without my wife ever suspecting a thing. I gradually block the communication between my children and their mother, and make it look like I’m the “good guy.”
I may touch your child in your presence so that she thinks you are comfortable with the way I touch her. |
Why Don’t Child Molesters Always Get Caught?
Remember, once I start, I will do everything possible to continue molesting your child. I am
sexually turned on by kids and I enjoy being sexual with them. If I have had a lot of practice, I
can become very skilled at offending. I will not stop on my own. I am very selfish and do not
care if my behavior is hurting your child.
After I’ve begun molesting your child, I maintain his cooperation and silence through guilt,
shame, fear and, sometimes, “love.”
I convince your child that he is responsible for my behavior.
I make your child think no one will believe him if he tells on me.
I tell your child that you will be disappointed in him for what he has done “with” me.
I warn your child that she will be the one who will be punished if she talks.
I may threaten your child with physical violence against her, you, a pet or another loved one.
I may have gotten the child to feel sorry for me or believe that she is the only one who
understands me.
If I am a parent or live in a home with children, my behavior may look accidental. I may
“accidentally” expose myself or “accidentally” walk in on children while they are using the
bathroom or changing clothes.
If I am a father, my behavior might look “normal” to other people. I may use situations like
tucking the kids in at night to touch them sexually.
I may have told my children that “this is what all fathers do with their children” so they don’t
know to tell.
I may be so good at manipulating children that they may try to protect me because they love
me. |
Prevention
Don’t feel that your child is safe from me! At least one out of every four children will be
molested by the age of eighteen.
Here are some ways to protect children from me:
Don’t expect your child to be able to protect himself from me or assume that he will be able to
tell you that I am abusing him.
Communication: listen, believe and trust what your child tells you. Children rarely lie about
sexual abuse.
Education: teach your child healthy values about sexuality. If you don’t teach your child… I
will.
Watch for any symptoms of sexual abuse your child might demonstrate.
An excellent guide for teaching children about sexual abuse is A Very Touching Book by Jan
Hindman; for teens No is Not Enough by Caren Adams, Jennifer Fay and Jan Loreen-Martin;
for adults By Silence Betrayed by John Crewdson.
Give your child specific information about where on her body she should not be touched or
touch others.
Let her know that people who touch children’s private parts need help because they have a
problem with touching.
Remind your child that “secret touching” is never the child’s fault. Talk to your child about
the ways someone might try to “trick” him into going along with the “secret touching” or not
telling you that it is happening to him.
Make sure your child knows that you want him to tell you immediately if something should
happen and that, despite what anyone else may tell him, he will not be in trouble.
Get to know your child’s friends and the homes in which your child plays.
Be wary of older children or adults who want to spend a lot of time alone with your child.
Trust your intuition: if you feel something is not right in your child’s relationships, act on it.
Learn about the prevention program that your school uses and discuss it with your children. Have “safety talks” with your children several times a year. Add information about the risk of encountering sexually explicit materials and adult offenders in the community and on the internet.
Almost one quarter of children are exposed to “unwanted” pornography via the internet. Use
an ISP that offers screening for obscenity and pornography. |
Indications That a Child is Being Molested
Because each child is unique, symptoms of sexual abuse vary and can be hard to identify in
some cases.
Here are some things to watch for:
Behavioral symptoms can include a change in modesty, ranging from becoming overly
concerned about their bodies to engaging in inappropriate sexual behaviors.
Physical symptoms can include genital pain, itching, discharge and bleeding.
Children can also develop stomachaches, headaches and a variety of other physical
complaints.
Other changes can include sleep disturbances, bed wetting, unexplained fears or refusal to go
certain places or be with certain people. School problems, difficulties with peers, excessive
crying or depression, clinginess, aggressiveness or secretiveness are also common.
Children who are being abused sometimes try to deal with their problems by engaging in
“escape” behavior. This may involve running away, drug or alcohol use, day dreaming or
becoming more isolated.
Some children may not demonstrate any type of negative symptoms. Some offenders are able
to “groom” children for abuse in a manner that makes the child feel comfortable, close to and
even protective of the offender.
Remember, if your child demonstrates any abrupt change in behavior, he may have
something he needs to talk about. Repeated inquiries and supportive information may be
necessary. If a child molester has begun isolating and manipulating your child, he may feel
very confused about telling. The child may believe that if he tells, he will be the one in trouble
or that he will lose his “friend” or parent. |
Where You Can Get Help
Sexual abuse is a crime. If you believe I have molested your child or any other child, don’t try to
handle it yourself! I will always promise you that it was the first time and that I will never do it
again. I will be lying and I’m good at it. Call the police! The best thing you can do for your child,
and my past and potential victims, is to report me to the authorities. If I molested your child, I’ll
do it to someone else’s child unless you stop me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.
|
HOME
why we started this site |
|
|
|
|
|
|
