Citation

Saradjian J. J. Sex. Aggress. 1997; 3(1): 3-14.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13552609708413265

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An increasing number of victims of childhood sexual abuse by female perpetrators are being recognised. At present the majority of such cases point to this abuse most frequently being perpetrated by the mother or the primary female caretaker. This will undoubtedly have specific consequences for the victim and hence specific issues to be addressed in therapy. Based on research carried out with thirty-four women who have sexually abused their own children, (twenty-one as sole perpetrators and thirteen in conjunction with men) and interviews with these women's victims and/or the professionals involved with them, these specific developmental consequences and hence therapeutic issues are considered. Specific findings from this group of victims are difficulties in sexuality and sexualising relationships, greater association of caregiving and sex; more generalised distrust; feelings of powerlessness; difficulty in believing the experience really happened; high likelihood of using dissociation and repression; high level of enmeshment with the mother and difficulties in establishing a separate identity; learning disability of no obvious origin; aggression directed towards self and/or others. It is argued that these difficulties may be exacerbated by society's difficulty in accepting that women, particularly mothers, can sexually abuse children.