Child Sexual Abuse and the Male Monopoly: An Empirical Exploration of Gender and a Sexual Interest in Children
- The author is a principal officer within Kirklees social services, acting as an independent chair for child protection conferences and looked after children reviews.
- Correspondence to Mike Freel, Child Protection and Review Unit, Kirklees Children and Families Services, Westfields, Westfields Road, Mirfield, WF14 9PW, UK. E‐mail: mike.freel{at}kirkleesmc.gov.uk
- Accepted January 1, 2002.
Abstract
Researchers argue there is a male monopoly in the perpetration of child sexual abuse, and that a male sexual interest in children is relatively common in society. Government and organizations working with children have done little to address possible implications of such research. This study explores gender differences in an expressed sexual interest in children, a history of childhood sexual abuse, and the relationship between these two factors. A self‐administer questionnaire was given to a sample of 92 female and 91 male public sector child care workers. Results showed a significantly higher percentage of males (15 per cent) than females (4 per cent) expressed a sexual interest in children. Females (20 per cent) were more than twice as likely as males (8 per cent) to report childhood sexual abuse. More than twice as many men who had been sexually abused as a child (29 per cent) expressed a sexual interest in children compared with non‐abused men (14 per cent), but this did not reach statistical significance. In summary, this study found that a sexual interest in children is relatively common among male public sector child care workers. Prevalence findings for childhood sexual abuse are broadly in line with other research. Experiencing childhood sexual abuse was not related to a sexual interest in children, but this finding is based on small numbers reporting such an interest.
- Copyright British Association of Social Workers 2003
