A1 Journal article (refereed)
Tyttöjen ja poikien väliset erot seksuaalisesta hyväksikäytöstä kertomisessa (2020)
Differences between girls and boys in the disclosure of sexual abuse

Hietamäki, J., Husso, M., & Arponen, T. (2020). Tyttöjen ja poikien väliset erot seksuaalisesta hyväksikäytöstä kertomisessa. Yhteiskuntapolitiikka, 85(5-6), 542-553. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2020112593236

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Hietamäki, Johanna; Husso, Marita; Arponen, Tiina

Journal or series: Yhteiskuntapolitiikka

ISSN: 1455-6901

eISSN: 1458-6118

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 85

Issue number: 5-6

Pages range: 542-553

Publisher: Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: Finnish

Persistent website address: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2020112593236

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/78740

Abstract

This article addresses the frequency of child sexual abuse and its disclosure from the perspective of girls and boys between ages 11 and 17 years. It is based on data from two population-based studies in the Child Victim Surveys 2008 (N = 13,459) and 2013 (N = 11,364), with sexual abuse examined from the perspectives of disclosure and gender. Frequency and percentage analysis, cross tabulation and a chi-squared test were used for data analysis. In both Child Victim Surveys around 85% of the victims were girls. The offender was a relative, friend or some other known person in almost two-thirds of the cases, and unknown to the victim in more than one-third of the cases. The second most common case was that the victim knew but was not a friend of the offender. Sexual abuse was in many ways gendered. Most victims were girls, and most of the offenders were men. There was also a gender difference in the disclosure of sexual abuse experiences. About one-fifth of the girls and half of the boys reported that they had not told anyone about their experiences. Irrespective of who the offender was, the victims had most commonly told a friend or sibling about their experiences. Parents were told about sexual abuse by 23% of the victims, and the authorities by only 10%. The survey shows that children’s and adolescents’ experiences of sexual abuse are gendered. Moreover, victims are silenced by shame and fear, and they do not believe they will get help. In order to address the problem it is necessary to raise awareness and to promote an atmosphere that supports the disclosure of experiences of abuse and violence and improves readiness to address this issue.

Keywords: children (age groups); sexual abuse; sex crimes; recognition; experiences (knowledge); being silent; girls; boys; gender differences; early intervention; intervention; child protection

Free keywords: child sexual abuse; child victim survey; gendered violence; disclosure

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020

JUFO rating: 2