RE: sexual activity and harm from abuse

["Taylor, Peggy" <pbillings@xxxxxx>]

Far too frequently in the history of sexual misuse jurisprudence for
both children and adults, perpetrators have escaped consequences for
their crimes on the basis of the VICTIM's sexual history.  "Oh, she was
asking for it."

What is your hypothesis?  That the victim would be more relaxed if
he/she had been sexually active?  That prior sexual activity reduces the
trauma of rape and sexual exploitation for victims of any age?  And how
would any such hypothesis account for the grooming behavior that many
sexual abuse perpetrators engage in?  For example, it's not uncommon for
intrafamilial perpetrators to develop a relationship with their victims
that begins with innocent activities progressing gradually to more
sexualized activities.   Children in similar circumstances can be very
traumatized long before any overt sexual act occurs.......or in the
complete absence of a physical sex act.

Including the victim's sexual history in consideration of child sexual
abuse is a political decision that is far more in the interests of the
perpetrators than in the interests of the child VICTIMS.

The factors likely to mitigate harm for victims of childhood sexual
misuse are protective factors, particularly adults who protect these
children without seeking to qualify the horrors of this experience with
the child's sexual history.

Peggy Taylor, MSW
Project Coordinator
Office of Child Welfare and Children's Mental Health
School of Social Welfare
University of Kansas
1545 Lilac Lane
Lawrence, KS  66045

785 864 3749




-----Original Message-----
From: owner-CHILD-MALTREATMENT-RESEARCH-L@cornell.edu
[mailto:owner-CHILD-MALTREATMENT-RESEARCH-L@cornell.edu] On Behalf Of
Ben Saunders
Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 8:31 AM
To: Child Maltreatment Researchers
Subject: sexual activity and harm from abuse


Is anyone aware of any research findings examining the relationship 
between prior sexual activity and harm from sexual abuse?  In other 
words, if a child or adolescent has never been sexually active, is 
sexual abuse more harmful, less harmful, or is there no difference than 
if they were sexually active all other factors being equal.  Various 
professionals are suggesting that if a child or adolescent was sexually 
active prior to being sexually abused, then any potential harmful 
effects of the sexual abuse would be reduced compared to a situation 
where they had not been sexually active.  If anyone is aware of related 
research on this question, please send me the references.

Thanks,   Ben

-- 
Benjamin E. Saunders, Ph.D.
National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center
Medical University of South Carolina
165 Cannon Street, Box 250852
Charleston, SC  29425
843-792-2945

Visit our web sites:   www.musc.edu/cvc    www.musc.edu/tfcbt
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