The effects of extra-familial child sexual abuse on the victim's primary care givers
Date
2006-11-17T07:12:10Z
Authors
Mashiloane, Salome Mamphoreng
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study explored the effects of extra-familial child sexual abuse on the victims’ primary
caregivers. The study focused on the experiences of ten mothers whose children were raped
during the six months that preceded the study, and they were drawn from Zamokuhle and
Nthabiseng clinics in Soweto. A semi-structured individual interview was used to explore
the implications of the rape on the primary caregivers’ psychological well being. The data
was processed using qualitative content analysis as the methodology.
Findings indicate that the children were raped in their everyday environment during their
mothers’ absence. The majority of the perpetrators are trusted neighbours and some used
violence to coerce the children into participating. Some children concealed the rapes from
their mothers and they were threatened with punishment to facilitate disclosure. The
primary caregivers responded with anger post-disclosure which was directed toward
different parties. They blamed the children for withholding the rape and for failing to
combat it, and the perpetrators for betraying them. The mothers’ anger was exacerbated by
the failure of the justice system to bring the perpetrators to book, and other people whom
the mothers felt should have protected their children.
In terms of causal attribution, the respondents questioned their maternal role and felt that
they did not provide their children with the necessary care and protection they needed. The
primary caregivers also felt that the children could have prevented the rape if they behaved
differently. The rape took a toll on the relationship the mothers had with their children as
some became overprotective to compensate for the protection they never provided their
children with. Most mothers displayed an inability to cope post-disclosure which suggests
that child sexual abuse has adverse effects on the psychological well-being of noniv
offending mothers. For purposes of clarity, the word “mother” will be used interchangeably
with “primary caregiver” throughout the study.
Description
Faculty of Humanities
School of Human and Community Development
0008716g
Mashils@hotmail.com
Keywords
Child sexual abuse, victims parents, Victims of rape, Extra-familial, Victims caregivers