The following news report is a case in point that the media consistently distorts the facts regarding Sexual Child Abuse."SAN FERNANDO, Calif. (March 31) - Joey Buttafuoco, the Long Island body shop owner who gained notoriety in the 1990s when his teenage girlfriend shot his wife, has been ordered to stand trial on a felony charge of illegally possessing ammunition.".The media's reference to the teenage girl Buttafuoco sexually abused as 'his teenage girlfriend' is a total distortion of the truth. Joey Buttafuoco was a 36-year-old married man, who like many other married men, used 16-year-old Amy Fisher as his sex-toy.
The media dubbed Amy the 'Long Island Lolita.' In the U.S. girls or boys who have engaged with an adult in a sexual manner is considered a sexual child abuse survivor.
Labeling a 16-year-old girl a 'Lolita' implies she enticed the man into sexual activity?therefore she is responsible for the entire 'sordid' event. It is unconscionable we allow the media to continue to perpetuate this blatant distortion of the facts.The definition of sexual child abuse clearly exonerates children under age 18 as equal partners and holds adults fully responsible for his/her actions.
"Incest is both sexual abuse and an abuse of power. It is violence that does not require force. Another is using the victim, treating them in a way that they do not want or in a way that is not appropriate by a person with whom a different relationship is required. It is abuse because it does not take into consideration the needs or wishes of the child; rather, it meets the needs of the other person at the child's expense. If the experience has sexual meaning for another person, in lieu of a nurturing purpose for the benefit of the child, it is abuse.
If it is unwanted or inappropriate for her age or the relationship, it is abuse. Incest [sexual abuse] can occur through words, sounds, or even exposure of the child to sights or acts that are sexual but do not involve her. If she is forced to see what she does not want to see, for instance, by an exhibitionist, it is abuse.
If a child is forced into an experience that is sexual in content or overtone that is abuse.As long as the child is induced into sexual activity with someone who is in a position of greater power, whether that power is derived through the perpetrator's age, size, status, or relationship, the act is abusive. A child who cannot refuse, or who believes she or he cannot refuse, is a child who has been violated." (E. Sue Blume, Secret Survivors).
If one fully understands, accepts and uses this detailed description of sexual child abuse and incest, one is armed with information to protect children from this insidious crime that impacts 62% of girls and 31% of boys by age 18.Another little known statistic is the most frequent sex offender. Research by David Finkelhor and Diana Russell reveals 80% of children are abused by family members.
19% are abused by someone the child knows?teacher, neighbor, family friend, playmate or playmate's sibling, playmate's parent or grandparent, coach, school janitor, bus driver to name the most frequent known and trusted sex offenders. Government statistics report 1% of all children, who are sexually abused are abused by strangers.Unfortunately, the media coverage of stranger sexual child abuse and little media coverage of family sexual abuse, it appears to the majority that stranger sexual child abuse is the most prominent and anyone can state?"That would never happen in my neighborhood." And if the truth about family child sexual abuse [incest] is reported or talked about?many people immediately believe and/or state, "I don't need to be concerned about that in my family.".Those who remain in denial about the definition of sexual child abuse, the truth about the most frequent sexual child abuse offender is part of the reason sex offenders have the opportunity to abuse children.
We need to hold the media accountable for the consistent distortion of sexual child abuse facts. We need to contact the media consistently with the 'facts' when we hear a distortion. Every newspapers, radio and TV station has a phone number, email and U.S. postal address, it only takes 5 minutes to speak up for children.
If you don't, who will?.We are responsible: "Those who ignore the past are condemned to repeat it." ?Sartre."We are not only responsible for what we do, but also, for that what we don't do.
" ?Voltaire."The Worst way you can choose is to choose no way at all." ?Friedrich II.
"Every choice we make, every thought and feeling we have, is an act of power that has biological, environmental, social, personal and global consequences." ?Caroline Myss.
.Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, author, "If I'd Only Known.Sexual Abuse in or Out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention, specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening.
http://www.drdorothy.net.
By: Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD
