Child abuse statistics

 Lately in political arguments between the far left and the far right, I started noticing that both sides are using child sexual abuse as points in their political narratives. Those on the far left only mention clergy as perpetrators when bringing it up. Those on the far right only mention members of the lgbt community when bringing it up. If you listen closely to the arguments, you’ll realize that the people on both sides that are making these arguments aren’t doing so as members of society that are actually concerned about the welfare of children. The arguments are made to disparage either clergy or members of the lgbt community. Childhood sexual abuse is used as a pawn in their narratives of hate, and it’s pretty gross if you ask me. I don’t associate with extremes in any movement, and that includes the American far left and far right. 

I have personally wondered what would happen if a child disclosed sexual abuse to one of these people and the perpetrator was one of the people they defend in their political arguments. For instance, what if a child confided in someone on the far right that a clergy member was abusing them? On the flip side, what if a child confided in someone on the far left that someone was abusing them that just so happened to be LGBTQ? Would that child be believed?

I feel like it would depend on the individual. Some individuals on the far extreme of one political side would believe the child and take action. Some others wouldn’t, and life would proceed to get worse for that child. 

Some real information on the facts of childhood sexual abuse ca be found here, here, here, and here. 

Not much is said about the characteristics of abusers. That’s because they can have any characteristics. No one should have the mindset that any one type of person would “never” do this, because some might. And you might be the trusted adult that a victim turns to. You need to believe the child if they trust you that much. 

I used to have a very part time job on the side when I worked at the children’s museum. It was an organization that taught kids how to recognize child abuse. I went to different schools and taught based on their age. Maybe I’ll describe this job in detail in a later post. I taught kids what it was and told them who they could turn to in order to tell. They used to raise their hands and tell me people in their life who they could trust if anything ever happened. I would just hate to think that any of those people would be on an extreme side of the political spectrum and tell the child, “Your pastor would never” or “Your uncle would never.” 

Please stop using sexual abuse to push a political narrative. Both sides.