what is the definition of sexual child abuse?

Question

a friend of mine at 8 was 'felt up' by their friend and by cousin...is this abuse? or does it have to be by an older person who does it maliciously?

Answer 1

Child sexual abuse can mean several things.

It's when an adult does anything sexual with a minor ( whether touching them, doing oral sex on them, or having intercourse)exposing the child to pornography, talking about inappropriate sexual topics with them, walking around naked in front of the child, having sex in front of the child...anything along the lines of that.

If your friend was felt up by a cousin five years older than her or was forced into it, then it will also be considered abuse from what I believe. If she wasn't forced into it, the perpetrator would have to be significantly older than her for it to be considered abuse because the older person knows that the young are easy to manipulate and control.


Even if the child feels pleasure while the adult is doing sexual things to them, it's still child sexual abuse! Many child sexual abuse victims don't realize they were being abused because the adult abuser gave them an orgasm or they may have enjoyed looking at porno magazines for the first time. You don't have to force a child either to be qualified as "sexually abusing" them. Even if the child agrees to engage in sexual acts with an adult or is coerced into it, it's still abuse. By the law, a minor is incapable of giving consent and most children aren't educated about sex in the first place. That's why children aren't held accountable for allowing some 50 year old man to touch them. It's entirely the adult's fault, because the adult is the one that wants to sexually exploit and use the child for his or her own gratification. The adult abuser should know better that children aren't sex objects and that they shouldn't be coerced or exposed to sexual acts at such a young age.

The effects of child sexual abuse are devastating, and this is something that the public needs to be educated on.

Answer 2

I would think if someone did this to an 8 year old and there a few years younger I would be very upset about it...because I have a tendancy to believe that a 12-13 year old is much more mature than an 8 year old. But other than being the parent of that 8 year old I don't know what else you can do (legally) or if its just your responsibility (as a parent) to confront the friends and cousins parents.
I just went back to read your question and you said you had a friend of your at the age of eight. Past tense. How old are they now? And what is it that you or this person wants to do about it now? I don't know if there really is anything you can do about it now.

Answer 3

Sometimes children play out roles. The border line, I would say, is when one has hit puberty. This would clearly indicate that the act may have real sexual connotation. Prior to puberty, the acts are nothing more than role playing from things children may have heard about or seen.
However, taking advantage or power control is abuse. And is not that common among younger children, but is possible, therefore this too would be considered abuse.

Answer 4

I am so angry. It doesn't matter if the abuse took place from a younger, same age or older person. Abuse is abuse. This 8 year old was violated. How old is she now? She/He will always remember this incident.

Those of you who gave the impression of role playing and kids will be kids need to be hung out to dry. We teach both of our girls that it is never appropiate at any age. We talk to them almost monthly about their bodies and to protect them.

Bad parenting in my opinion of you don't talk to your children about this. It is effident in this case as they told you about it and not thier parents.

GRRR!!!

I posted your question on my blog for others to comment on also.

Answer 5

Sexual abuse is defined as: A type of maltreatment that refers to the involvement of the child in sexual activity to provide sexual gratification or financial benefit to the perpetrator, including contacts for sexual purposes, molestation, statutory rape, prostitution, pornography, exposure, incest, or other sexually exploitative activities.

Basically, anything that your friend was not willing to do is sexual abuse. And as they were 8 years old and unable to legally consent, then it is considered sexual abuse.

Answer 6

How old was the cousin? Doesn't necessarily have to be an older person. If it just happens once whatever, but if it is regularly occurring and the feelings aren't mutual perhaps you should say something to adults.

Answer 7

It's any type behavior that violates a child's body and/or emotions!! Private parts are just that--PRIVATE!!! It has nothing to do with intent nor the age of the abuser.