sexual abuse
What to know
Sexual abuse refers to nonconsensual sexual activity that often involves force, threats, or coercion. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with sexual assault. Legally, sexual abuse does not require physical contact. It can include sexual assault, exploitation, molestation, rape, exposure, verbal sexual threats, making or sharing sexual images without consent, and so on.
In the context of abuse of a child by an adult, the term “sexual abuse” is more accurate than “child molestation,” which can give readers the false impression that abuse only counts if touching is involved.
Likewise, substituting the word “abuse” with “pedophilia” can be misleading in that it puts the focus on attraction rather than behavior.
People with disabilities who rely on others for daily living activities can be especially vulnerable to sexual abuse. Some individuals may not have access to the tools necessary to make a report. Others may report the abuse but are disbelieved. Nearly 2 percent of older adults in institutional settings experience sexual abuse, according to some estimates. An adult may have dementia or another condition that makes them unable to consent. It’s also possible that a caregiver will withhold necessities or make threats to coerce the individual into sexual activity.
Employing trauma-informed reporting and interviewing techniques, avoiding victim-blaming and sanitizing language, and surfacing effective prevention methods can help produce accurate, ethical journalism on sexual abuse that minimizes harm.
Additional resources
- Warning Signs for Young Children (RAINN)
- Elder Sexual Abuse (elderabuse.org)
- Pedocriminality: Why We Should Stop Using the Word Pedophilia When Discussing Childhood Sexual Abuse (Celeste Ziehl/Medium)
Summary
Sexual abuse refers to nonconsensual sexual activity that often involves force, threats, or coercion. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with sexual assault. In the context of abuse of a child by an adult, the term “sexual abuse” is more accurate than “child molestation,” which can give readers the false impression that abuse only counts if touching is involved. Employing trauma-informed reporting and interviewing techniques, avoiding victim-blaming and sanitizing language, and surfacing effective prevention methods can help produce accurate, ethical journalism on sexual abuse that minimizes harm.