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Familial Indicators of Child Sexual Abuse
Familial Indicators of Child Sexual Abuse
Sometimes friends and loved ones can detect family indicators that suggest sexual abuse. However, this is usually a difficult task, because most families involved in sexual abuse are secretive and put up a good front for others. Therefore the victim still provides the best source of information for suspected abuse.
Below are some listed family indicators that suggest the existence of sexual abuse.
1) Role reversal between mother and daughter
2) Extreme overprotectiveness or jealousy toward a child by a parent (parent sharply restricts a child's contact with peers and adults outside the home)
3) Inappropriate sleeping arrangements (child sleep with a parent on a regular basis or with both parents, where she is exposed to sexual activity)
4) Prolonged absence of one parent form the home (through death, divorce, etc.) so the child may be forced to fill the absent partner's role
5) Mother who is often ill or disabled
6) Extreme lack of communication between caretakers
7) Inordinate participation of father in family (father may interact very little with family members or may insist on being in charge of all family activities)
8) Extreme paternal dominance of spouse (for instance, mother is not allowed to drive or to talk to school personnel, etc.)
9) Work or activity schedules that result in caretaker (especially male) spending large amounts of time alone with a child or children
10) Extreme favoritism shown to a child (father may spend a lot of time giving attention to one daughter)
11) Severe overreaction by a parent to any sex education offered to a child
12) Caretaker who has been sexually abused as a child
13) Geographic isolation of family
14) Overcrowding in a home so that children are forced to sleep with parents and/or other family members
15) Family has no social or personal support system
16) Alcohol or drug abuse within a family
When it comes to evaluating potential abuse situations, take caution: jumping to an extreme and seeing a case under every rock could cause much harm. Uneducated accusations not based on facts can wreak havoc in relationships. At the same time, do not let clear facts go unnoticed, as society in general and the Christian church in particular have often allowed this to happen.
The average Christian finds it difficult to accept the fact that sexual abuse occurs in Christian families. Sometimes we all need a challenge to become involved. How easy to say, "It's none of my business!" or, "Why open a can of worms?" As responsible care givers, we must resist the temptation to ignore signs of child abuse. Assuming that Christian families have an immunity to this aspect of our fallen world is simply spiritual naivete.
(Surviving the Secret; pgs. 184-186)