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Azzopardi C. Gendered Attributions of Blame and Failure to Protect in Child Welfare Responses to Sexual Abuse: A Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis. Violence Against Women 2021; 28:1631-1658. [PMID: 34515580 PMCID: PMC8941713 DOI: 10.1177/10778012211024263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Gender-based relations of power and attributions of blame for child sexual abuse have been longstanding in child welfare policy and practice. Nonoffending mothers continue to be ascribed responsibility through the ideologically and institutionally entrenched doctrine of failure to protect. Feminist critical discourse analysis was used to (a) expose and disrupt dominant discourses of gender, motherhood, and risk that operate to construct and reinforce notions of blame and failure to protect, as enacted by way of child welfare text in context; and (b) build a credible case for social and organizational change grounded in an alternative discourse with greater explanatory power. Progressive avenues for resistance, negotiation, and transformation are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corry Azzopardi
- Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Program, Division of Paediatric Medicine, 7979The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, 7938University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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2
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Obong'o CO, Patel SN, Cain M, Kasese C, Mupambireyi Z, Bangani Z, Pichon LC, Miller KS. Suffering whether You Tell or Don't Tell: Perceived Re-Victimization as a Barrier to Disclosing Child Sexual Abuse in Zimbabwe. JOURNAL OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 2020; 29:944-964. [PMID: 33174814 DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2020.1832176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Disclosing child sexual abuse (CSA) is a necessary first step to access the legal, health, and psycho-social services that survivors and their families need. However, disclosure rates are low: of young women who experienced CSA in Zimbabwe, only 9% disclosed the first incident. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and describe perceived barriers to disclosing CSA in Zimbabwe. We conducted focus group discussions with children aged 10-14 years (n = 40) and their parents/caregivers aged 20-62 years (n = 40), participating in an intervention trial in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. We found that potential retaliation against survivors and their families is a major barrier to disclosing CSA. These retaliatory acts, which we refer to as "re-victimization," arise from stigma or the victim feeling blamed or doubted and manifest through physical violence, emotional violence, and deprivation of family life and education. Our findings suggest that addressing social and cultural norms related to sex and strengthening legal protection for CSA survivors and their families could encourage CSA disclosure and could help end this violence. Our findings also highlight a need to increase children's awareness of their rights and to create safe systems for disclosure of sexual abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher O Obong'o
- Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Memphis , Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Shilpa N Patel
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Global HIV , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Meagan Cain
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Global HIV , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Constance Kasese
- Children and Adolescents Department , Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research Zimbabwe (Ceshhar) , Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Zivai Mupambireyi
- Children and Adolescents Department , Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research Zimbabwe (Ceshhar) , Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Zwashe Bangani
- Children and Adolescents Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Latrice C Pichon
- Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Memphis , Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kim S Miller
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Global HIV , Atlanta, GA, USA
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Vladimir M, Robertson D. The Lived Experiences of Non-Offending Fathers with Children Who Survived Sexual Abuse. JOURNAL OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 2020; 29:312-332. [PMID: 31211662 DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2019.1620396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A non-offending father figure plays an integral role in the healing process of a child who survived sexual abuse. However, becoming aware of the sexual abuse can significantly affect non-offending father figures and therefore impact their ability to properly support and care for the survivor. We sought to better understand the non-offending father figures' reactions to the aftermath of sexual abuse of their children. Using an existential-phenomenological approach, we offered a platform for non-offending father figures to share their stories. Through the interviews, we found five major themes, which include: "Guilt, anguish, and stigma", "Hypervigilance and competing demands of fathering", "Who can we trust?", "Refocusing on the family", and "Picking up the pieces". Based on this and previous studies, non-offending father figures experience psychological pain in the aftermath of the disclosure of sexual abuse, they deal with competing demands of various fatherly roles, and they prioritize supporting the family through the healing process. The findings suggest that the psychological well-being of the non-offending father figures can benefit the family. Therefore, mental health treatment protocols addressing father figures' needs can contribute to a sexual abuse treatment model that encourages paternal involvement in the care of children with a sexual abuse history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Vladimir
- Department of Counseling, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Derek Robertson
- Department of Counseling, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
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Mathews S, Hendricks N, Abrahams N. A Psychosocial Understanding of Child Sexual Abuse Disclosure Among Female Children in South Africa. JOURNAL OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 2016; 25:636-654. [PMID: 27561120 DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2016.1199078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Child sexual abuse is endemic in South Africa, driven by high levels of gender-based violence and underscored by structural and social factors. This article aims to develop an understanding of the process of disclosure in a sample of female children and their caregivers. In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with 31 female children aged 8-17 years and their caregivers at 3 intervals after presentation to a sexual assault treatment center. Nearly half of the children failed to disclose the sexual abuse immediately, fearing caregivers' reaction. Most children purposefully disclosed to a confidant through a process of identifying an intermediary to tell caregivers on their behalf. The process of disclosure was influenced by multiple factors, such as a fear of the caregiver's reaction and disbelief, which is related to parental style. Disclosure was found to be a dynamic process that unfolds and not a single or static event and influenced by multiple factors which all impact on recovery. Our findings highlight the need to address social norms on sexual abuse in order to improve responses to disclosure to facilitate post-sexual-abuse adjustment for the child and the family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanaaz Mathews
- a Children's Institute , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa
| | - Natasha Hendricks
- b Gender and Health Research Unit , South African Medical Research Council , Cape Town , South Africa
| | - Naeemah Abrahams
- b Gender and Health Research Unit , South African Medical Research Council , Cape Town , South Africa
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Bidarra ZS, Lessard G, Dumont A. Co-occurrence of intimate partner violence and child sexual abuse: Prevalence, risk factors and related issues. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2016; 55:10-21. [PMID: 27060785 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
This article proposes a review of the scientific literature on the cooccurrence of intimate partner violence and intrafamilial child sexual abuse. The review of these two types of violence has evolved in distinct research fields and their cooccurrence has rarely been examined. The objective of this article is to examine the existing knowledge about this cooccurrence. A systematic examination of the scientific literature in several relevant databases was conducted using combinations of 20 keywords so as to identify scientific articles, published between 2003 and 2013, that investigated this cooccurrence. The final sample comprised 10 studies. These studies revealed the presence of much heterogeneity regarding the prevalence of the cooccurrence for intimate partner violence with sexual abuse and other maltreatment (from 12% to 70%). The review also highlighted a greater risk for children to be victims of sexual abuse or other maltreatment when exposed to intimate partner violence. The implications of these results and the ensuing recommendations for practice and future research are considered in the discussion section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zelimar S Bidarra
- Center of Applied Social Sciences, Universida de Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Brazil.
| | | | - Annie Dumont
- School of Social Work, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
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Collin-Vézina D, De La Sablonnière-Griffin M, Palmer AM, Milne L. A preliminary mapping of individual, relational, and social factors that impede disclosure of childhood sexual abuse. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2015; 43:123-34. [PMID: 25846196 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2014] [Revised: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Uncovering the pathways to disclosures of child sexual abuse (CSA) and the factors influencing the willingness of victims to talk about the abuse is paramount to the development of powerful practice and policy initiatives. Framed as a long interview method utilizing a grounded theory approach to analyze data, the objective of the current study was to provide a preliminary mapping of the barriers to CSA disclosures through an ecological systemic lens, from a sample of 67 male and female CSA adult survivors, all of whom had recently received counselling services. The current project led to the identification of three broad categories of barriers that were each comprised of several subthemes, namely: Barriers from Within (internalized victim-blaming, mechanisms to protect oneself, and immature development at time of abuse); Barriers in Relation to Others (violence and dysfunction in the family, power dynamics, awareness of the impact of telling, and fragile social network); and Barriers in Relation to the Social World (labelling, taboo of sexuality, lack of services available, and culture or time period). This study points to the importance of using a broad ecological framework to understand the factors that inhibit disclosure of CSA, as barriers to disclosure do not constrain solely the victims. Results are discussed in light of their implications for research, prevention and intervention programs, and social policies and media campaigns, as the burden is on the larger community to create a climate of safety and transparency that makes the telling of CSA possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Collin-Vézina
- McGill University, School of Social Work, Centre for Research on Children and Families, 3506, University, Suite 321A, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A7, Canada
| | | | - Andrea M Palmer
- McGill University, School of Social Work, Centre for Research on Children and Families, Canada
| | - Lise Milne
- McGill University, School of Social Work, Centre for Research on Children and Families, Canada
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Wolf MR, Nochajski TH. Child sexual abuse survivors with dissociative amnesia: what's the difference? JOURNAL OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 2013; 22:462-480. [PMID: 23682770 DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2013.781094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Although the issue of dissociative amnesia in adult survivors of child sexual abuse has been contentious, many research studies have shown that there is a subset of child sexual abuse survivors who have forgotten their abuse and later remembered it. Child sexual abuse survivors with dissociative amnesia histories have different formative and therapeutic issues than survivors of child sexual abuse who have had continuous memory of their abuse. This article first discusses those differences in terms of the moderating risk factors for developing dissociative amnesia (e.g., age, ethnicity, gender, etc.) and then mediating risk factors (e.g., social support, trait dissociativity, etc.). The differences between the two types of survivors are then explored in terms of treatment issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly R Wolf
- School of Social Work, Buffalo Center for Social Research, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Buffalo, New York 14214-8004, USA.
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Wager NM. Sexual revictimization: double betrayal and the risk associated with dissociative amnesia. JOURNAL OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 2013; 22:878-899. [PMID: 24125087 DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2013.830666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to identify new treatment targets in order to develop more empirically informed initiatives to prevent sexual revictimization. A retrospective Web-based survey employing a mixed-methods design attracted a self-selecting sample of 481 community respondents, 183 of whom indicated a history of childhood sexual abuse. Seventy-four percent were females whose ages ranged from 16 to 69 years (mean = 31.2 years). Betrayal trauma referred to CSA committed by a trusted perpetrator (often caregivers). Disclosure experiences in childhood were reported though open-dialogue boxes. Double betrayal referred to high-betrayal trauma being combined with a negative response to a disclosure. This was associated with both higher incidences of prior psychogenic amnesia for CSA and sexual revictimization in later life. The findings have implications for educating the guardians of children about the prevalence and implications of CSA as well as the importance of early recognition and appropriate responding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia M Wager
- a University of Bedfordshire , Luton , Bedfordshire , United Kingdom
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Hershkowitz I, Lanes O, Lamb ME. Exploring the disclosure of child sexual abuse with alleged victims and their parents. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2007; 31:111-23. [PMID: 17316793 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2006.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2005] [Revised: 08/24/2006] [Accepted: 09/12/2006] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The goal of the present study was to examine how children disclosed sexual abuse by alleged perpetrators who were not family members. METHODOLOGY Thirty alleged victims of sexual abuse and their parents were interviewed. The children were interviewed using the NICHD Investigative Interview Protocol by six experienced youth investigators. The same principles were followed when the parents were asked to describe in detail what had happened since the abusive incidents. The statements made by the children and parents were then content analyzed. Major characteristics of the children's and parents' reported behaviors were identified by two independent raters. FINDINGS More than half (53%) of the children delayed disclosure for between 1 week and 2 years, fewer than half first disclosed to their parents, and over 40% did not disclose spontaneously but did so only after they were prompted; 50% of the children reported feeling afraid or ashamed of their parents' responses, and their parents indeed tended to blame the children or act angrily. The disclosure process varied depending on the children's ages, the severity and frequency of abuse, the parents' expected reactions, the suspects' identities, and the strategies they had used to foster secrecy. CONCLUSIONS The children's willingness to disclose abuse to their parents promptly and spontaneously decreased when they expected negative reactions, especially when the abuse was more serious. A strong correlation between predicted and actual parental reactions suggested that the children anticipated their parents' likely reactions very well.
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