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.
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