Preventing Female-Perpetrated Sexual Abuse

Abstract

Sexual abuse and sexual assault are serious public health concerns. Although almost all of the research shows that the majority of sexual perpetrators are males, there is growing evidence that female-perpetrated sexual abuse is not rare and that the consequences of female-perpetrated sexual abuse can be just as traumatic as male-perpetrated sexual abuse. Despite this, there has been very little research published that has focused on female sex offending. Furthermore, although there have been some efforts in the past decade to stop sexual offenses by targeting potential perpetrators, few efforts have specifically focused on preventing females from becoming sex offenders. In an attempt to fill this gap, this article describes common characteristics of female sex offenders; and, based on these characteristics, suggestions are given of possible ways to intervene in the lives of at-risk females before they offend.

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

“…Considerable evidence has been gathered that FSOs more frequently have a personal history of trauma and abuse, even of a sexual nature, than their male counterpart (21,44,45). This is also confirmed by the present sample: 37.5% of the FSOs had been abused by their former partner and/or their father.…”

Women Accused of Sex Offenses: A Gender‐Based Comparison

“…Other studies have demonstrated that women are more likely to have psychological problems but less likely to use drugs and alcohol in the commission of the offenses (Faller, ; Johannson‐Love & Fremouw, ). Oliver () noted that women were more likely to have a history of more severe sexual abuse, were more likely to have attempted suicide and were more likely to have been diagnosed with post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than their male counterparts. Another study indicated that, while women were more likely to have a history of sexual abuse and suicide attempts than men, their demographic factors were similar (e.g., age, ethnicity, educational level) (Miccio‐Fonseca, ).…”

A comparison of the general public's, forensic professionals' and students' attitudes towards female sex offenders

“…Several barriers exist to reporting such abuse, such as the common perception that sexual abuse perpetrated by females is harmless in comparison to male-perpetrated sexual abuse, the glorification by society of sexual activity involving adult females and underage males, the greater taboo surrounding female-perpetrated sexual abuse and traditional sexual scripts that portray females as sexually passive and innocent (Oliver, 2007). Despite its taboo status, the reality remains that some females do perpetrate sexual abuse.…”