Why blame strangers when familiar adults are more likely to sexually abuse children?

Question

In the past few months, I have become interested in the sex offender issue. What has struck me is all the studies and statistics point to adults in a child's life (parents, step parents, relatives, babysitters, coaches, ministers and priests, teachers, etc.) are overwhelmingly and statistically responsible for child sexual abuse and abduction in the US, rather than the rare "stranger danger" situation so hyped and promoted. Yet whenever the media covers this issue, especially the sensationalistic coverage, it focuses on the stranger cases and rarely if ever discusses the familial abuse. I've come to the conclusion this is done for two reasons: the media is seeking circulation and ratings and to hype familial abuse is not sexy; and two, people reject the idea of familial abuse, preferring to believe stranger danger is more prevalent because it's too horrible to believe most abuse is occurring within the family unit or closely related to the child.
Comments anyone?

I see that several of you said that familial abuse isn't sensationalized because it would identify the victim. I don't quite believe that is the reason why stranger danger is sensationalized. All of the kids who have been taken by strangers have been identified: the girl who was taken by Joseph Duncan, the Missouri kid, Jessica Lunsford, Polly Klaas. The list goes on and on. Yes, familial abuse is reported on, but RARELY does it become a national sensation as stranger abductions. Coverage is usually localized and quickly disappears and rarely becomes the subject matter for legislation. (A rarity is the Lacey and Connor bill, named for Lacey Peteron and her unborn son, who were killed by her husband.) I still think that the media covers - and inflates the risks - of stranger danger because it is "sexy", sensational and hits people emotionally. It's also easy to explain that some stranger is a pervert than have to get into messy details about why family and others sexually abuse.

Answer 1

I think it also has to do with keeping anonymity within the family. It would be very hard to heal if the entire world knew your situation- especially if they knew both parties. Most of the time, in a "stranger" situation, there is a kidnapping, so there would be an initial missing-children report, amber alert, etc. Eventually, the details unfold and so does the story. Look at what happened with the boys from Missouri. Murder statistics follow the same pattern. You are more likely to be murdered by your spouse or lover before a complete stranger.

EDIT

I wouldn't use the word "sexy." If you're heading in that direction, I would think it would have to do with an uncontrollable variable. An outside force is something that parents have no control over. Parents choose their children's caregivers and which relatives to visit, etc., so they feel they have some control in that situation because there is trust. We do not have any trust in strangers, and to think that someone outside the "circle of trust" could break in and take their child is frightening. The stranger did not know the child, so s/he could have abducted *any* child, which makes any child in any family a possible target. It hits harder with everyone could it could have happened to their children just as easily. The stranger, most of the time, knows no stereotypes or discriminations like wealth, race, religion. It's all a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time- an opportunity. People can see a case of incest on the news and think "that wouldn't happen in my family," but they can't say that when it concerns an outside force in which they have no control over. The media will publicize anything that scares us because it sells. They will do stories on "Things in YOUR fridge that will KILL you!!!" That was a few years ago. Did anyone actually die from the items in their fridge????..... nope. But that teaser line got the station ratings. The media is known for distorting reality in order to sell. Education can dissolve this problem.

Answer 2

Yes, you are correct. The "stranger danger" scenario is indeed the most rare of all the cases of child abuse reported. Consider this. Many of the children who are in abuse situations at home are too young to even realize that they are being abused or, if they are older, have possibly been threatened into submission by the adults. I think in large part the media focuses on the stranger danger cases because they are so odd and rare. Where I am from, though, we regulary hear about foster kids in abusive situations at home...even kids that have been killed in foster care. I also hear about cases of children being beaten, burned, dumped in dumpsters, or neglected to the point of death by their own parents and step parents. I read about this on an almost daily basis. There has been a story in recent news about the kid who was abducted and returned after 4 years away. That has been very sensationalized by the media. I am sure, though, that in this day and age the family of that child did not expect to see him alive again. Also recently there was the tragic story of the baby that was microwaved. By its mother. Or the 4-year-old that was decapitated...apparently by her father. We live in a sick world, my friend. I have found the media here to give plenty of time to the cases of abuse in the home. I only wish there was more I could do to prevent it. Hope this enlightens you. Best wishes.

Answer 3

When it is a family or friend situation, too much publicity of the family or friends, good or bad, will harm the victim more than if it is a stranger situation.
In most cases the victim will still be living near the abuser or the abusers kin and friends, so less coverage helps protect the abused victim.

Answer 4

that is true....if you ever get those fliers that have the missing kids on them you will notice that about 90% of them were taken by there relative (mom,dad,grandma etc.) but the only kids you see on the news are the ones that were kidnapped by total strangers......now im confused.

Answer 5

In the UK it is to protect the identity of the victim (which is paramount). Unfortunately, whilst doing so, the identity of the 'uncle', 'father', 'brother', 'neighbour', etc., has his identity kept secret at the same time.

Answer 6

Look at yahoo 360 gsservies