WHAT IS SEXUAL ABUSE?

SEXUAL ABUSE DEFINED

"Abuse occurs when there is a violation of a trusting relationship with unequal power and/or advanced knowledge, there is a need for secrecy and, there is sexual activity." (Van dam, 2001). Fondling, oral sex, simulated or actual intercourse, exposing, taking sexually explicit pictures of children, showing children sexually explicit material or having sex in front of a child are crimes. In Oregon, sexual activity between children who are 3 years apart is considered inappropriate or, if one child engages or another child in sexual activity when there is an unequal balance of power or control and/or advanced sexual knowledge.

STAGES OF SEX ABUSE

Gaining access, selection and assessment of their victim.

The offender gains access into child/family/community, is attracted to the child, begins to study and get close to the child & family. The offender looks for vulnerabilities and ways to gain entrance into the child's routine.

Emotional Engagement.

The offender pretends and camouflages their attraction and grooming as normal social interactions. The offender could provide "helpful" assistance with childcare, rides or activities while they are really deepening friendship and /or authoritative relationship with the child, family and/or community. The development of "trust," respect or dependency facilitates offending, offsets future "suspicion" and decreases reporting.

Desensitization.

The offender "tests," and desensitizes the child and family to emotional and physical interactions, and begins to isolate the child away from protection.

Sexual Seduction and Abuse.

The offender gradually moves from non-sexual touching and neutral conversation/behaviors to sexualized conversation and contact/touching.

Maintaining Cooperation and Silence of the child.

The offender obtains the child's "cooperation" with sexual talk and contact by using seduction and manipulation. Because of the offender's relationship with the child & family, the child victim may begin to feel like the relationship and sexual contact was "mutual."

Avoiding Detection and Prosecution.

The offender enlists the child's silence through seduction, guilt or threats. The offender also interferes with the adults' ability to detect their behavior, believe and support their child victim or, confront the behavior and/or contact law enforcement.