7 myths about child sexual abuse (pederasty)

What misconceptions does society have about pederasty?

Childhood sexual abuse (pederasty) is a vitally important problem for the mental health of those who suffer from it.

This type of abuse has been considered a risk factor for the development of a variety of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, dissociative disorder or depression.

Child sexual abuse: invisibilized and ignored

Even so, at a social level it is an issue that is not very visible, with a high number of unreported cases and associated with a significant number of myths that influence the general knowledge of the problem. Beliefs that distort the vision of this type of abuse at the social level, that can influence the stigma towards victims and create resistance to report these cases.

Therefore, it is important to be aware of these myths in order to provide real and contrasted information about this phenomenon so that it can be addressed more effectively. In this article we will explore seven of the myths that I consider most relevant:

Myth 1: Child sexual abuse is not as common as it is said to be.

The truth is that this type of abuse is more widespread than we think. It is estimated that one in four girls and one in six to eight boys have been sexually abused as children..

Recent studies indicate that the prevalence of child sexual abuse in Spain is 19% in females and 15.5% in males. Many of the victims never disclose the abuse, so, as it goes unnoticed by the authorities, these figures could be higher.

Myth 2: Girls are at greater risk than boys

Prevalence studies tell us that females suffer more sexual abuse during childhood, but these results may be influenced by a reporting bias..

It is believed that men may find it more difficult to report abuse due to cultural stereotypes of masculinity and initiators of sexual relations.

Myth 3: Perpetrators are strangers to the victim

The literature shows that, in approximately 80-85% of cases, the abuser was known to the victim, even from her own family circle.even from her own family circle.

In Spain it is observed that in cases where the victim is under 13 years of age, between 23.7% and 29.3% of the cases the aggressor was a stranger. These numbers increase in cases where the victim is between 13 and 18 years of age, with 20% of women and 54.5% of men being abused by a stranger.

Myth 4: Childhood sexual abuse only occurs in certain social classes, cultures or dysfunctional families.

Childhood sexual abuse occurs in all cultures, communities and social classes.. This myth may limit prevention, as it ignores that such abuse can happen to anyone, and the same is true for dysfunctional families.

This type of abuse is independent of the functionality of the family, as abusers can gain the trust of both functional and dysfunctional families.

Myth 5: All sexual abusers were abused as children.

Some abusers have been sexually abused as children, but this is not a general fact.But this is not a generalized fact, as studies indicate that one in eight victims of child sexual abuse ends up sexually abusing boys or girls.

This myth is used by abusers to gain sympathy or rationalize their abusive tendencies.

Myth 6: Abusers are only men

The literature suggests that between 20-25% of sexual abuse cases have been perpetrated by women.. This myth is based on the belief that women are caregivers and are not capable of being aggressive towards children.

Children under 5 years of age and adolescents are at greater risk of being victimized by women.

Myth 7: Abused children know it is wrong and would disclose it

Minors are not necessarily aware that this type of activity is wrong: the "grooming" technique, grooming in Spanish, is used by pedophiles to gain the friendship and trust of minors before the abuse begins. before the abuse begins.

Through this technique, the child does not want to lose the friendship with the abuser, or violate their trust, since they consider their relationship to be special, and therefore, they do not explain this abuse to anyone.

I hope this information has been useful and will serve to better understand this phenomenon.