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Child Sexual Abuse Even in cases of child sexual abuse, perpetrators use the issue of consent as a defense. How does this resemble the rape of adults? What other parallels do you see regarding powerful vs. powerless? Eve Ensler stated "(sic) my father abusing me set me up for being raped as an adult." What lessons could a traumatized child learn about relationships or self-care that would increase her or his chances of being sexually assaulted as an adult? Richard Ridlon discussed not being believed when he disclosed that he had been sexually abused by his uncle. How might his life course been different if he had been believed and no longer had contact with his uncle? Child sexual abuse is not the only trauma in the childhoods of rape survivors. What connections can you make between physical abuse as a child and rape as an adult? Substance abuse by a parent? Witness to domestic violence? Neglect? Numerous placements in foster care and institutions? Premature sexual overstimulation? Exposure to community violence? The adults in the film are resilient. What characteristics can you identify that helped these survivors overcome the traumas they've endured? FURTHER
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Teens 16 to 19 are three and one-half times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault. Source: National Crime Victimization Survey. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 1996. |