Topics and findings

I am writing a paper in my Modern Women Writers college class about child abuse. This is a very sore subject for me and a topic I feel very strongly about.
Upon my research for this topic, I have come across some very disturbing material. A book was written on abuse in 2001 called “Child Sexual Abuse Its scope and our failure” by Rebecca M. Bolen. Inside the author discusses the history of child abuse starting around the 1800’s and moving forward as well as its relationship with society. What I have learned based off just two chapters in this book is extremely powerful and very anger worthy in my opinion.
First, I have read that child abuse was basically suppressed until the 1970’s and 1980’s. That by its own accord is very astonishing because so many before now have been mistreated and misused. Secondly, that it was believed that children seduced adults! The author quotes Bender &Blau 1937 and Bender & Grugett 1952 and gives this quote “it was highly probable that the child had used his charms in the role of the seducer (p.826)” in her book to demonstrate the effects (Bolen, 21).
I have so much to say about all of this, but it must remain to start with my college paper rather than to confront it within this blog. What I can say is it reminds me of the views in the Middle East I spoke of in my previous blog. Societies there and here seem to relate in the fact that guilt trips are riddled everywhere. No wonder Victims of child sexual abuse feel like it is their fault- because before 1980 and in some cases even today- it was and is!
I will post my findings here as I move forward.

Earthquake Guilt Trip

  I read this article the other day from bbc news about a cleric claiming "promiscuous women" relatedness caused an earthquake which killed 25,000 people.

  I'll admit there are some rationals that do not quite fit from Middle East to US, but really, women can cause such devastation?

  I've enclosed a link to the article so that those who read this blog can look at what I'm talking about.  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8631775.stm

  After reading such an article I pondered the idea that the cleric portrayed and I quote "Many women who do not dress modestly lead young men astray and spread adultery in society which increases earthquakes"
                He also talks about not disappointing God...

  Be that as it may- I have to admit my wondering mind first went to anger at such a thing as a woman dressing differently or even scandalous being the cause of a natural disaster. 

  But then I realized- WOW! Women have power! and not just any kind of power, but according to this cleric, the earth shattering kind of power, and the power to cause a reaction in a higher power such as God.

  Is he really saying that women have control over men, control over the earth, and control over a higher being?
And if that be the case, then I guess I could see in all the greed how someone might want to harness that power and use it to their own advantage.

  I believe there is a God, but I would never believe for half a second that the way anyone dressed could be the cause of something horrific as a natural disaster killing so many- 
                                  what a guilt trip. 
  I cannot even fathom the kind of emotional abusive pain this kind of accusation could cause women in the Middle East.