Exposing the Epidemic of Child Sexual Abuse

What is an epidemic?

The Miriam-Webster Dictionary defines epidemic as:

"Affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time; excessively prevalent or characterized by very widespread growth or extent."

See below how child sexual abuse compares to other epidemics that affect children:

At RAACE, we believe that information and education are the first steps to inspire individuals and communities to stop the ongoing victimization of children everywhere. The statistics are heartbreaking, but we know these statistics are not just numbers. The numbers represent real children — including children we already know.

Definition

Child sexual abuse is defined as sexual activities involving a child and an ‘abusive condition.’ Coercion or a large age gap between the participants indicates a lack of consensuality. ¹

Examples of Sexual Abuse

• Lewd behavior toward a child
• Sexual innuendos or suggestive speech
• Exposing a child to pornography
• Touch or manipulating a child’s genitals in a sexual manner
• Adult rubbing against a child (masturbating)
• Having children engage in sexual acts with other children
• Performing oral sex on a child
• Adult having a child perform oral sex on them
• Engaging in vaginal or anal intercourse with a child

A Silent Epidemic

• 42% of women and 33% of men never disclose their experience to anyone¹
• Nearly 80% of victims will initially deny the abuse or be hesitant about disclosing²
• Approximately 75% of known cases are disclosed accidentally by the abused child²

Close to Home

• 30-40% are abused by a family member³
• 90% of all offenders are someone the child knows and trusts⁴
• Almost 50% are abused by someone outside the family whom they know and trust⁵
• 40% are abused by older or larger children whom they know⁶
• Only 10% are abused by strangers³

More Than You Think 

• 1 in 3 girls are sexually abused before the age of 18⁷
• 1 in 7 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18⁷
• 1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the Internet⁸
• 39 million survivors of child sexual abuse exist in America today⁹