MYTH OR FACT
Child Abuse is rare and happens mostly to girls and hardly ever to boys.
Myth: According to statistics, 50% of all women and 30% of all men were victims of unwanted sexual act as children.
Sexual abuse happens mostly in poor families.
MYTH: Sexual abuse happens among all groups of the population. It happens in all sociodemographic and education levels.
Child sexual abuse is a rare experience
MYTH: Child sexual abuse is not rare. Retrospective research indicates that as many as 1 out of 4 girls and 1 out of 6 boys will experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18. 1 However, because child sexual abuse is by its very nature secretive, many of these cases are never reported.
It is easy for victims to stop the sexual abuse from happening. All they have to say is no.
MYTH: It's very hard for children and adolescents to stop the abuse from happening. Children are taught to obey adults, so it is hard for kids to just say no. Victims are often ticked, bribed, or threatened into going along with the abuse. Abusers are often very tricky and know what to say or do to get kids to go along with the sexual abuse.
Most sexual abusers are sick and cannot sop themselves from molesting a child.
Myth: Although the behavior of child molesters is disturbing, most people who sexually abuse a child appear normal, a few have a specific mental illness. Sexual abusers have control over their behavior. They are aware that they are doing something wrong, and they are making a choice to abuse a child.
Children rarely lie about being sexually abused.
FACT: Children rarely lie about being sexually abused. Even if the abuser is proven not guilty in court, this does not mean that the child was making up the story about being molested.
Most children who have been sexually abused keep the abuse a secret for a long time.
FACT: It is very common for victims of sexual abuse to keep the abuse a secret because they are afraid of what will happen if people find out, or they worry they won't be believed.
Victims of sexual abuse sometimes cause the abuse to happen because of how they dress or act.
MYTH: Nothing the victim says or does causes the abuse to happen. It is always the sexual abuser's responsibility because he or she is making a choice to do something that is wrong.
Preschoolers do not need to know about child sexual abuse and would be frightened if educated about it.
MYTH: Numerous educational programs are available to teach young children about body safety skills and the difference between “okay” and “not okay” touches. These programs can help children develop basic safety skills in a way that is helpful rather than frightening.
Children who are sexually abused will never recover.
MYTH: Many children are quite resilient, and with a combination of effective counseling and support from their parents or caregivers, children can and do recover from such experiences
Child sexual abuse is always perpetrated by adults.
MYTH: Twenty-three percent of reported cases of child sexual abuse are perpetrated by individuals under the age of 18. 3 While some degree of sexual curiosity and exploration is to be expected between children of about the same age, when one child coerces another to engage in adult-like sexual activities, the behavior is unhealthy and abusive. Both the abuser and the victim can benefit from counseling.
The child did not say no or try to stop the sexual abuse, so the child is partly to blame.
MYTH: A common stress response is to freeze, and this may prevent a child from responding or saying ‘no.’ Adult offenders are always to blame, as children are unable to consent.
Talking about sexual abuse with a child who has suffered such an experience will only make it worse.
MYTH: Although children often choose not to talk about their abuse, there is no evidence that encouraging children to talk about sexual abuse will make them feel worse. On the contrary, treatment from a mental health professional can minimize the physical, emotional, and social problems of these children by allowing them to process their feelings and fears related to the abuse.
Parents always believe their kids when they tell them they have been sexually abused.
MYTH: Sometimes parents don't believe their kids when they tell them about the sexual abuse, because it's hard for parents to accept that their kids have been hurt or that someone, they love has hurt their child. Parents may need time to sort out their feelings and to get the right kids of help in order to support their child.
It is better to forget about the sexual abuse than to talk about it.
MYTH: Although it can be hard to talk about the sexual abuse, it is important for victims to get help and talk about what happened.
It is easy to identify a victim of child abuse or neglect.
MYTH: It’s not that simple. Although there may be telltale signs of some types of child abuse, not all victims exhibit obvious signs. Even the best parents or most astute adults may not recognize the signs of child abuse, which is not an indictment on those who failed to recognize that abuse was happening.
All boys who are sexually abused by a male are gay.
MYTH: Just because a boy is sexually abused by a male does not mean he is gay. Some boys who are sexually abused may feel confused about their sexual orientation. This is normal and okay. It can help to talk to someone about these confusing feelings.
A child is most likely to be sexually abused by a stranger.
MYTH: Children are most often sexually abused by someone they know and trust. Approximately three quarters of reported cases of child sexual abuse are committed by family members or other individuals who are considered part of the victim’s “circle of trust" (coach, teacher, baby-sitter, family friend).
Unless sexual intercourse occurs, it's not really sexual abuse.
MYTH: Sexual abuse is when someone uses tricks, secrecy, or force to touch a child's private parts in a way that confuses them, scares them, or hurts them. It is also abuse if someone forces the child to touch him/her in a sexual way, or takes naked pictures of the child, or makes the child look at pornographic pictures.
If a child is abused at a very young age, there won’t be repercussions because they are so young and won’t remember the abuse.
MYTH: Children can be and are affected by trauma at a very young age. Depending on their age and cognitive ability, they can recall this trauma for years to come—even if it occurred when they were young. There is no absolute with this myth but suffice it to say that if your child discloses abuse, it’s best to have them talk to a professional trained to examine the potential for long-term damage.