WHY TALK ABOUT SEXUAL CHILD ABUSE IN PUBLIC ?

Almost every day there are stories of child sexual abuse written in the newspaper. Some people read them and have sympathy towards them, but not everyone understands what child sexual abuse actually means and how can they help these children. Child sexual abuse is “ the inappropriate sexual behavior with a child”, (DFWAC, 2009). Many children’s lives have been badly affected from such a behavior; many have survived but not all. These words are written by one of the child sexual abuse survivors: “… I feel like I am nothing now, the sex abuse has stolen my youth, my innocence, my freedom, my trust, and sense of security… part of me wants people to know so I don't have to hide it anymore, and another part of me needs privacy and discrete living” (Experience Project, 2010). Child sexual abuse is a very sensitive and critical problem. People should be aware about it and the number of cases should be decreased in any way. One of the best ways to decrease the rate of sexual child abuse might be by talking about it and spreading the awareness among people of all ages. Talking about child sexual abuse cases in public is a good thing because victims of sexual abuse suffer terribly, it is the only way to spread awareness and it is part of treating the victims.

Conferring about sexual child abuse in public is part of treating the because it makes the victim feel stronger. Some signs related to sexual abuse such as low self-confidence and melancholy, are very familiar (Garbarino & Eckenrode, 1997). However, many sexual abused survivors declare that the protection, care and support of the family are the most important things a victim of sexual abuse needs to get better, stronger, respond to the treatment and heal (Garbarino & Eckenrode, 1997). Furthermore, one way the family can show their support and care is to help their child stand up and speak out in public and report the sexual abuse, in view of the fact that most sexual abuse victims blame themselves (McMeans, 2010). Also, “The first feeling a child has is the question: 'Is it my fault?' They feel like they made it happen. They think they should have done this or that to prevent it"( Mcmeans, 2010). Marcia, a fifteen years old victim of child abuse said “They wouldn’t have [beaten] me if I didn’t deserve it. They just wouldn’t have done it” (Garbarino & Eckenrode, 1997). Abused victims believe that they are not important, most of them have no opinion and they let people decide for them (Garbarino & Eckenrode, 1997). Additionally, the majority of sexual abused children come down with unmanageable “intimate relationships”, (Newton, 2001). Children are very innocent; they should not suffer. They should be protected and supported.