Re: Sibling Sexual Abuse

["Rob Newell" <rmnewell@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rachael,

I have a problem with your constructs.  For example, you define incest has 
"non-consensual interaction...."  Are you saying the "consensual" sexual 
interaction between children is not incest...is not abuse?  If so, how are 
these constructs different...theoretically as well as clinically?  Also, 
what is the theoretical rational for your "near-siblings" construct, etc., 
as raised by others on this list?  Moreover, given that children, by virtue 
of being children, cannot give consent in a legal sense, is there really any 
such thing as "consensual" sexual interaction between children?

I think that your prospective study still suffers from some conceptual 
unclarity (i.e., "fuzzy thinking") that needs to be addressed.

Robert M. Newell, Ph.D.
Seattle, Washington



Hello Listers,

I am a Masters of Social Work Student at Carleton University doing research 
on sibling incest.  I am defining, for the purposes of my study, sibling 
incest as any non-consensual interaction of a sexual nature between siblings 
and 'near' siblings (e.g. step & foster siblings).  I am presently looking 
at rates of incidence as well as characteristics of the sibling incest 
family, characteristics of the 'victim' and the 'offender' (age, gender, 
past history of victimization, exposure to family violence, etc.).

The 'rates of incidence' is the tough area, as most data sets are from
surveys of reported child abuse and neglect, and most of those do not name 
'sibling' as an offender.  The NIS, for example, asks about 'adults' who 
have offended.  Most of the literature (I have found thus far) contains 
research based on small treatment samples, with the exception of D. 
Finkelhor's study in 1981.  Any and all leads and suggestions as to where I 
can find more data - quantitative and qualitative - would be most welcome.

Happy holidays to all....

Rachael Crowder
MSW Student
Carleton University
Ottawa Canada





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