The politics of child sexual abuse

 Everyone feels sorry to hear stories of a child being abused and for a good reason. Child sexual abuse is probably the worst anyone can do to a child. A child has very little to call his or her own and robbing their bodies of the little dignity they have is shameful and disgusting.

Despite this crime and the outrage that surrounds it a silence exists that keeps the crime under wraps. We speak about sexual abuse in hushed tones or we don’t talk about it at all or we pretend it happens miles away. Despite the shocking statistics we tend to ignore all the signs we give the perpetrators the benefit of doubt. The accuracy of children’s testimonies are questioned making the whole thing look futile.

Often no Action is taken against the perpetrator or even if it is taken it isn’t adequate.  The sad thing is that people in power (adults) often seem to collude with the perpetrators (adults). It is almost as if the child has no say over the misuse of their body. Child sexual abuse exists because the adults who can stop it choose to be silent or are caught up in the politics of who has the jurisdiction.

As a psychologist all you can do is provide a therapy……. why bother with liberation? As listened to the case this young intern presented what I felt was a feeling of absolute hopelessness for the young girl and also at being a psychologist. The field of psychology has colluded with the oppressors for a long time now. Sigmund Freud who was probably the first person to speak about child abuse went back on everything he said.  The social worker, teacher, police can only help you so much and perhaps don’t want to get involved either.   

When it comes down to brass tacks the people who can do something for a child somehow seem to do everything that makes the child feel like its their fault. So dear psychologist the next time you want to do something for a child soften your hearts and think.