Re: sexual abuse and offenders

[Julie Rosof-Williams <rosof@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think Tom Oellerich made an important point about the definition of
sexual abuse.  In reality it is a vague term that applies to a wide variety
of circumstances.  However, I would like to clarify his definition of
sexual abuse. More specifically, are you defining sexual abuse as the
unwanted/coerced activities between two individuals? How would cases of
"statutory rape" fit in this definition, where an adolescent (13-18 years
old) and adult (>=18 years old)  are involved in a sexual relationship?
Ask some teens and they state they voluntarily engaged in the sexual
activity - - even though he or she could not give consent per local
codes/statute.  From whose perspective is one of the individuals coerced?
>From society? From the therapist? From the researcher?  From the
individuals in the sexual relationship? 

Sincerely,

Julie Rosof-Williams, RN, MSN, FNP
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN


 
>From the scientific perspective, the
>stance should be that sex abuse is not to be assumed but is a matter to be
>established as a conclusion.  Thus, it would be better to be studying
>adult-nonadult sexual interactions which may involve contact/noncontact
>experiences in familial/nonfamilial settings which may be wanted/unwanted
>with the latter involving or not involving coercion.  I would argue the
>only category that is abusive is the unwanted/coerced category regardless
>of setting.