Tackling teenage sexual abuse

Teenage sexual abuse, like other forms of sexual abuse, is an abuse of power. A person who is older and stronger lures or forces a teenager into sexual activity. The abuser usually wins the trust of victim first, and then violates that trust in order to perpetrate the act.

The abuser may use force, threat, the offer of special attention or a gift to make the victim to keep the abuse secret. In teenage sexual abuse, the victim and the abuser may be siblings, step-siblings or nephews. Also, as in other forms of sexual abuse, teenage sexual abuse doesn’t necessarily involve sexual touching.

Trust is essential in families, but a family member who has been given a lot of responsibility and power may abuse that trust. Teenage sexual abuse often takes place when parents fail to question the trust that they have reposed in a family member.

The experience is often very harmful because of sexual stimulation or physical force. The victim usually begins by trusting the abuser because they are family. When this trust is violated, the victim feels betrayed by that family member: someone they expect to love and care for them is hurting them.

In addition, teenage sexual abuse often causes more damage because the victims usually feel powerless to stop the abuse. They feel they can’t stop the offender because he has threatened them.

They may also feel powerless if you don’t believe them when they tell you they are being abused. This feeling of being powerless can stay with them and affect their adult relationships; they may carry these feeling of shame into adulthood.

Abayomi funmilayo: 07065414324