Female perpetrators of child sexual abuse: characteristics of the offender and victim

Abstract

This study investigates the prevalence rates of female perpetrated child sexual abuse in Ireland and explores the victim and perpetrator characteristics associated with the abuse. Methods: Data were from a nationally representative survey investigating sexual violence among adults living in Ireland (n = 3120). Descriptive statistics and regression analysis investigated the characteristics of female versus male perpetrated sexual abuse. Results: Approximately 6% of all the victims of child sexual abuse in the sample were abused by a lone female, which represents 1.5% of the overall adult population. Analyses indicated that male and female perpetrated abuse differ mainly in terms of the demographic characteristics of the perpetrators and victims: Female perpetrators are more likely to be younger, and are more likely to abuse male victims and older children and adolescents (9-17 years), compared with male perpetrators. Additionally, female perpetrators are less likely to be a stranger to the victim and in a position of authority, compared with male perpetrators. Conclusion: Treatment services should be particularly tailored for female perpetrated abuse, as the dynamics between the victim and perpetrator are likely to be different to male perpetrated abuse. The study adds to this relatively neglected area of research.

Child Sexual Abuse Perpetrated by Women: Case Series and Review of the Literature

“…Taking into account the highest level of violence in the cases where there were sexual acts belonging to multiple levels, level 1 represented 10% of the abuses, level 2 60%, and level 3 30%. These percentages are consistent with a recent study, in which 13% of the CSA perpetrated by FSOs did not include physical contacts, 66% implied nonintrusive acts and 21% penetration (23). The distribution of the level of violence after splitting the sample into two groups according to victims' age (group A with age ≤5 years, group B with age ≥9 years) is shown in Table 6.…”

“…Regarding the analysis of the level of sexual violence, the authors categorized the items according to whether the abuse involved “noncontact abuse/exposure to sexual content” (verbal coercion, exposure/involvement in pornographic content, coercion to witness sexual intercourse by the FSO), henceforth called “level 1”; “contact, nonpenetrative abuse” (genital fondling, masturbation, oral‐genital sex), “level 2”; and “penetrative abuse” (anus or vagina penetration with fingers or objects), “level 3.” Taking into account the highest level of violence in the cases where there were sexual acts belonging to multiple levels, level 1 represented 10% of the abuses, level 2 60%, and level 3 30%. These percentages are consistent with a recent study, in which 13% of the CSA perpetrated by FSOs did not include physical contacts, 66% implied nonintrusive acts and 21% penetration . The distribution of the level of violence after splitting the sample into two groups according to victims’ age (group A with age ≤5 years, group B with age ≥9 years) is shown in Table .…”

A qualitative study of the practices and experiences of staff in multidisciplinary child sexual exploitation partnerships in three English coastal towns

“…The demographic profile in these most oftreported cases significantly misrepresents the broader demographic picture of CSE victims and offenders however (Cockbain, 2013;Patel, 2018). Research (Cockbain, Brayley, & Ashby, 2014;Coy, Sharp-Jeffs, & Kelly, 2017) finds that many young men are also victims of CSE and that female perpetration is widely under detected and underreported (Bourke et al, 2014). In a study of over 9,000 CSE service users, Cockbain, Ashby, and Brayley (2017) found that one third were boys and young men.…”

Female Sexual Offending: A Neglected Criminal Justice Issue

“…Research also reveals that when it comes to the age of FSOs, juvenile arrest data finds that adolescent female offenders account for 3% of forcible rape cases, and 5% of other violent sex offenses (Snyder & Sickmund, 2006). Other studies find that while many FSOs are in their 20s and 30s, they are often younger when they start sexually abusing children (Bourke et al, 2014;Johansson-Love & Fremouw, 2009).…”

“…For those victims aged 6-12, 6% of the offenders were females. For victims who were between the ages of 12-17, 3% of the offenders were females (Snyder, 2000;Bourke et al, 2014). Statistics also show that female offenders comprised less than 10% of those arrested for committing sexual crimes.…”