What happens to kids that have been sexually assaulted?

Answer 1

Kids that have been sexually assaulted go through a lot. The sexual assault will typically start out where the kid is groomed by their abuser. This is where the kid begins to trust the abuser and the abuser befriends the kid (if the kid doesn't already know the abuser). This grooming process is to lower the kids inhibitions in preparation for sexual abuse. The process of grooming may take a while to build that trust, but it is this process that will make it harder for the kid to come forward later once that abuse has begun and tell. This is because it is harder to tell on someone that you trust or care about. Some of the ways that abuser use to groom kids may not be illegal in and of themselves, but when taken as a whole indicate that the abuser is grooming the kid to sexually abuse him/her.

Once the abuser has groomed the kid and the kid is receptive or responsive to sexual advances, the abuser is now open to doing any number of different acts, including exposing his/her genitals to the kid, displaying pornography, viewing the kid's genitals, physical contact with the kid's genitals, sexual contact with the kid's genitals (including masturbation, oral sex, vaginal sex [if female], and anal sex), or using the kid to produce child pornography. All of these acts are harmful to the kid, maybe not physically, but definitely mentally and emotionally. It is illegal to have do any of the above with a child under the age of consent; it is abuse and it harms the kid. Many times the kid is afraid to come forward because they are afraid that they won't be believed or they are afraid that they or someone they know will be hurt if they tell. Often times, the abuser will play on these and other fears as a means to keep the kid quiet. Sexual abuse is under-reported with some estimates being that 60% of all sexual assaults are not reported.

Answer 2

There are no hard, fast rules regarding how those who have been abused may act. They may keep quiet about it, but they may also begin to act out. They may withdraw, or they may become overtly emotional. their grades may drop, or they may become more focused on succeeding academically. They may become more shy about sexual matters, or they may become excessively interested or even heavily active.

The most important thing to watch for is a change in behavior. The most important thing to do is to educate children, all children of the potentials of sexual abuse, and that no matter what has been done to them, they need to talk to someone they trust. Using the proper words for private areas, and modeling good boundaries, including boundaries around affection, are good prevention steps. The trust must be built before the abuse occurs, as many who are abused find it difficult to trust afterward.