Child sexual abuse is any form of sexual contact in which a child is use for the sexual gratification of the abuser. Children are incapable of consenting to sexual contact with an adult because adults are authority figures.   Victims of this crime are both boys and girls.

People who abuse boys can be male or female; however, most abusers are heterosexual men.  Most abuse is done by someone the child knows and trusts.  Incest is a specific form of child sexual abuse, in which the abuser is a relative.

Why Teens Don’t Tell
Teenagers are unlikely to report date and acquaintance rape to the police, much less to anyone else! Looking at the reasons why teens don’t tell can help adults try to provide an environment where a teenager will feel safe to come forward and talk about it.

• No one will believe them!  Teens may fear that no one will believe they were raped, especially when the assailant is someone they know.

• Survivors don’t identify forced sex against their will as rape and as a crime.When the survivor knows the assailant and has no injuries, she may identify the act as unwanted sex or something that made her feel uncomfortable.  But she may not identify is as rape.

• It was the victim’s fault.  Victims often believe it was somehow their fault.  More than any other crime, rape victims are questioned about their actions and “their” part in the rape.

• Survivors don’t want the perpetrator to get in trouble.  Although it may be difficult too understand, a teen rape survivor may not want to get a friend, boyfriend or acquaintance in trouble.

• Everyone will find out.  A teen may fear her story will not be confidential and everyone at school will fin out.  Recent media events contribute to this fear.

• Survivors may fear they will be punished.  A teen may not tell parents perhaps because they broke their curfew or went out with someone their parents said not to date.  Fear of parental reaction may override the need to tell.

• Survivors are embarrassed by the crime.  Teens are embarrassed to discuss sex with parents.  Sexual abuse is even more difficult to talk about.

• Survivors may feel family can’t handle it.  A teen may feel they can handle it alone and may wish to protect the family.

• Psychological/geographical distance from parents.  Many teens chose not to talk to their parents about much of anything.  Or some may be away at school or living with only one parent or relative.

• Survivors wish to maintain independence.  During adolescence, most teens are gaining independence and fear their “freedom” will be restricted.