While the terms sexual abuse and sexual harassment are often used interchangeably, they are distinct categories of sexual misconduct. Understanding these differences can help us prioritize responses and prevention measures.
As we all know, sexual abuse is always unacceptable. Sexual exploitation, on the other hand, is an abuse of power, position, and trust, and includes trafficking and prostitution.
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a painful and personal experience that should not be shrouded in secrecy. However, it is essential to talk about sexual abuse, in order to help survivors of sexual abuse recover from the trauma. Joan Cook, a psychologist at Yale University, studies traumatic stress and treats people who were involved in war or sexual violence, including survivors of the World Trade Center towers attacks. Another researcher, Amy Ellis, co-director of the trauma resolution and integration program at Nova Southeastern University, believes that it’s important to speak up about child sexual abuse.
One third of all child sexual abuse victims never disclose their sexual abuse experiences, and many other children face barriers that prevent them from sharing their experiences. Intra-familial abuse is a particularly big barrier to sharing, and the complex emotions surrounding it can make it very difficult for victims to come forward. As a result, child sexual abuse is a hidden and under-reported phenomenon.
Economic abuse
Economic abuse is a form of abuse that threatens the victim’s financial security. This type of abuse often prevents the victim from knowing their finances or having the power to make financial decisions. It can also prevent the victim from obtaining and maintaining employment. This type of abuse has important implications for police, research, and practice.
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, approximately one-third of women in abusive relationships experience economic abuse. Common forms of economic abuse include denial of property rights, coercive appropriation of belongings, and a lack of trust. Women who have been married for a long time are also more likely to experience economic abuse.
Gender harassment
Women and men experience many different forms of sexual harassment. However, there are specific subgroups that are more likely to be the targets of this harassment. Women who are lesbian or bisexual, women who support gender equality, and men who identify as stereotypically masculine are all at greater risk of sexual harassment and abuse.
Despite the importance of this issue, organizations have generally treated sexual abuse and gender harassment (SEA) as separate issues. However, this publication argues that the two issues are linked and that we need to rethink our current approaches. This includes focusing on survivor voices and better understanding the causes.
Penetrating sex act
Penetrating sex act is defined as the act of inserting an object into the vagina. It is an act of sexual penetration and is illegal. It is also known as rape and is considered a form of sexual abuse. This can be done to either the victim or third party, irrespective of gender. The object must be placed in a position that is minimally intrusive.
Penetrating sex act is classified as an intrusion between the genitalia of a male or female. This may be done with a needle, a penis, or an object. The object must be small enough to allow the penetration.
Physical signs of sexual abuse
A child who has been sexually abused may exhibit physical signs. These are not always obvious and they are rare, but they may include pain, discoloration, and bleeding. Some children may also experience infections and sexually transmitted diseases. If any of these signs are present, the child should be evaluated for signs of sexual abuse by a physician. Often, there are also bruising and bleeding around the private parts. If you think you might have a child who has been sexually abused, it is essential to talk to the child and get their perspective.
If you suspect your child of abuse, it is important not to try to investigate the case yourself or confront the abuser. If possible, you should seek the help of a trained investigator, who can evaluate the situation and make a report. However, it is important to remember that physical signs of sexual abuse do not always mean abuse. A child may simply display signs that are not indicative of abuse, but you should never ignore them.
Reporting requirements for sexual abuse
There are several requirements that need to be met before a report of sexual abuse can be made. These requirements vary by location and the type of abuse. For example, reporting a sexual encounter between a child and an adult is different than reporting a sexual contact between a child and a stranger.
In Maryland, mandatory reporting requirements were introduced in 1993. If an employee of a healthcare facility failed to report suspected sexual abuse, they would be prosecuted for a third-degree misdemeanor. This legislation was spearheaded by 75-year-old Edward Bowman. Bowman pushed for this legislation after his wife died after suffering from sexual abuse.