Disclosure of Child Abuse in Conflict Areas

Abstract

Analyzing legal policies requires an in-depth understanding of the sociopolitical contexts within which sexual abuse is disclosed. Data presented in this study are based on a larger study of 628 Palestinian Israeli girls aged 14 to 16 years. Of these 628 girls, 28 victims of sexual abuse discussed their abuse with the research team. In addition, interviews were conducted with professional helpers. The contextual analyses of the interviews focused on the way young girls perceived disclosure, social support, and legal intervention to their abuse. Data revealed that the girls' attitudes not only conformed to general findings on disclosure of sexual abuse but also reflected sociopolitical fears and stressors. Helpers struggled between their beliefs that they should abide by the state's formal legal policies and their consideration of the victim's context. The study reveals how decontextualizing child protection laws and policies can keep sexually abused girls from seeking help.

Inadequate supervision or inadequate sensitivity to cultural differences in parenting? Exploring cross-cultural rates of neglect in an Australian sample

“…Firstly, it is consistent with other seminal researchers in the field (e.g. Munford, Oka and Desai, 2009;Maitra, 2005;Shalhoub-Kevorkian, 2005;Al-Krenawi and Graham, 2001;Hesketh, Shu Hong and Lynch, 2000;Owusu-Bempha, 1999) and so its use here is not unusual or odd.…”

Psychopathology Among Adults Abused During Childhood or Adolescence

“…Yet, previous studies on SA in this society indicated much higher rates (Haj Yahia and Tamish, 2001;Shalhoub-Kevorkian, 2005). Due to cultural characteristics of the Arab-Israeli society and the conflict that might ensue if a shadow is casted on the family, social desirability might have compromised the reliability of report.…”

Child/Adolescent Abuse and Suicidal Behavior: Are They Sex Related?

“…The frequency of registered CSA in the INHS among Arab‐Israelis was very low, only 0.9% for all ages. Yet, previous reports on CSA among Arab‐Israelis showed much higher rates (HajYahia & Tamish, 2001; Shalhoub‐Kevorkian, 2005). It is plausible that social desirability might have compromised the reliability of the self‐report because of the negative sanction and the shadow such report might cast on their tightly knit and patriarchal family.…”