Child sexual abuse (CSA) and sexual assault devastate millions of children worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 5 women and 1 in 13 men reported sexual abuse between the ages of 0 to 17 years old. The recent data collected by the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) showed that Illinois had 28,751 victims of child abuse in 2017; 4,140 of whom were sexually abused.
While sexual violence may occur anywhere and at any time, the places you least expect them to happen may be cultivating a safe space for predators. This includes youth sports organizations where children have unsupervised time with adults and are taught to trust authorities by defaults.
Sexual Assault in the State of Illinois
In the State of Illinois, criminal sexual assault occurs when:
- The perpetrator uses force or threatens to use force against the victim or knows the victim can’t understand the nature of the acts and give knowing consent;
- The abuser is a family member of the victim with the victim being younger than 18 years old; or
- The abuser is 17 years old or older and was trusted or had authority and supervision over the victim who’s at least 13 years old but younger than 18.
Incidence of Child Sexual Assault in Youth Sports
Perhaps the most notorious case of child sexual assault in sports is the case of Dr. Larry Nassar, a former US Olympic physician. Nassar was believed to have been abusing athletes for at least 25 years. In his hearing, 156 women and girls spoke about their abuse and how the gymnastics organization minimized and dismissed their reports against the doctor. Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in federal prison.
This occurrence, however, is not an isolated case and is backed by studies. Age and elite status are considered risk factors for athletes; that is, talented, puberty-aged athletes at the brink of the elite status are more vulnerable to abuse by authority figures. This is aggravated by the systemic risk factors like psychological abuse of coaches and unregulated isolated periods with authority figures. In another study, key outcomes showed that:
- Sexual violence against children in sports is rampant;
- Girls are more often victimized;
- Athletes from minority groups are more at risk for abuse; and
- Higher-level athletes are more vulnerable to grooming.
Grooming is defined as “slowly gaining trust before systematically breaking down interpersonal barriers.” This results in athletes being forced into compliance with their abuser. Grooming typically entails a particular liking, preference, or special treatment to an athlete over others.
Locker room trips, private training sessions, and one-on-one encounters make child athletes more vulnerable to coaches and other authority figures. This, added with the fact that some youth sports organizations are covering up sexual assault allegations to avoid legal liabilities and negative publicities, make sports organizations a viable ground for abusers.
Signs of Child Sexual Assault
It’s especially important to detect signs of distress, discomfort, and possible sexual abuse in children as primary prevention or preventing abuse before it ever occurs proves to be the best way to save children and adults from the long-term effects of sexual violence.
For children, here are potential manifestations of abuse
Physical signs:
- Difficulty sitting and walking;
- Bleeding, redness, or rashes in the genital area;
- Painful bowel;
- Frequent urinary tract infection (UTI);
- Frequent headaches or stomach aches;
- Bruises in the inner thighs and genitals or breasts;
- Unexplained anal or vaginal bleeding, irritation, or pain;
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD); and/or
- Pregnancy.
Behavioral and emotional signs:
- Regressive behavior or using old behaviors like bedwetting;
- Age-inappropriate sexual behavior;
- Excessive talk on sexual topics;
- Refusing to remove clothing or being left alone;
- Refusing to talk;
- Change in mood (increased aggression) and eating habits;
- Lost of interest in friends, hobbies, school;
- Self-harming ;
- Low self-confidence;
- Unexplained health problems like stomach upsets and headaches; or
- Nightmares.
- Signs of depression, like withdrawing from usual activities and persistent sadness;
- Eating problems, overeating or lack of appetite;
- Signs of physical abuse, like bruises;
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and/or other genital infections;
- Failing grades;
- Suicide ideation and suicidal behavior;
- Decrease in self-care and/or hygiene; or
- Alcohol or drug use.
The perpetrator may also show telltale signs of grooming like offering gifts off occasions, treating the child with special favor, trying to insert themselves into the child’s life. If you feel something is off, talk to your child and consult with the school or organization.
How to Prevent Child Sexual Assault
There’s no justification for sexual assault. And while the fault is on the perpetrator for exploiting a child, there are preventive measures for parents or guardians according to Chicago’s Children Advocacy Center and RAINN:
- Communicate. Building healthy rapport with your children will help them open up to you especially when they feel discomfort or notice inappropriate behavior. Listen to them. The key to communication is being honest, respectful, and developmentally-appropriate.
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Be involved in your child’s life. Ask them about their daily interactions and the people they’re interacting with without being intrusive. Know who they spend the bulk of their time with at school and outside.
- Teach your child about healthy sexuality. As a parent or guardian, you must learn age-appropriate sexual behaviors and discuss this with the child. Use correct terms for body parts and answer questions properly and accurately. This will help them identify proper and improper behavior before or when it happens.
- Establish consistent rules and boundaries. Teach your child about boundaries, consent, and privacy. Make sure that they follow the same rule outside of your home and let people who interact with them know about these boundaries and when you notice violations. It goes without saying that you must follow your own rules to set a good example.
- Choose their caregivers. Ask for multiple character references, if possible, and ask about their performance and interactions. Ask for a background check. Although background checks aren’t reliable due to low reporting of SV, this may still help to weed out your candidates. Use the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW).
- Observe, intervene, and speak up. Being attentive to your child’s life is important in keeping an eye out for potential concerning events or behaviors. Ask your child questions properly and talk about safety. Ask about your child in school and other places they may frequent. Use a safe word to alarm you of emergency or uncomfortable situations.
We hear your concerns and understand your predicament, that’s why our attorneys here at America’s Consumer Lawyer work hard in providing a safe environment for our clients. We will strive to build, defend, and win your case.
If you suspect a child is being abused or is at risk for abuse, please contact the Department of Children and Family Services’ 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline at 800-252-2873 or TTY 1-800-358-5117. The DCFS advises that if the child is in immediate danger, call 911 first.
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