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Abstract
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Studies of the childhood, adulthood, and parenthood of women who sexually abuse their children are rarely found in the literature. The characteristics of 26 such mother-child incest offenders are explored by the author and compared to the characteristics found in other studies and in clinical experiences with incest offenders of either sex.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this article by McCarty was to investigate the characteristics of women who sexually abuse their children.
METHODOLOGY:
The author conducted a non-experimental review of 26 case studies of mother-child incest. These cases were obtained from the Dallas Incest Treatment Program of the Texas Department of Human Resources. The sample was comprised of 23 biological mothers, one stepmother, one adoptive mother, and one lesbian lover of the victim's mother. Five perpetrators were primarily accomplices to the abuse. These offenders were evaluated using a separate analysis. Nine mothers co-offended with a male partner. A male perpetrator was identified in six of the cases, and in a separate six cases mothers were independent offenders. 11 mother-perpetrators abused females only (victims mean age was 6.4 years; range 2-15 years). Eight mothers victimized males only (mean age of the abused was 9.6 years; range 4-17 years). Two mothers victimized both female and male children.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
Information regarding the mother-perpetrators' experiences in childhood, adulthood and parenthood was obtained from the first 21 mothers.
The author found that most mothers (95%) reported both physical and sexual childhood abuse. 29% reported having multiple caretakers. 41% stated that their parents had divorced. 29% reported that their parents were alcoholics and one victim reported that her mother had been mentally ill. Two mothers who were accomplices in the abuse reported relatively more stable family of origin relations. 13 (76%) of the 21 primary offenders reported childhood sexual abuse. 67% of the independent perpetrators reported childhood victimization by their older brothers. 86% of the co-offenders stated that they had been primarily victimized by adult caretakers.
The author reported that a high proportion (85%) of the perpetrators married when they were teenagers; 31% were 15 years or less. None of the 21 offenders preferred sexual relations with children and none reported a history of sexual relations with children during adolescence. Eight offenders stated that they were experiencing a crisis in their marriage at the time of abuse. The author found that even when the accomplice-mothers knew about the abuse, they were reluctant to leave their spouse. The author stated that this follows information obtained in previous studies by Justice & Justice (1979). The author found that 42% of independent offenders had histories of sexual indiscretion. This applied to 56% of the co-offenders also. One accomplice was reported to have had a history of being sexually indiscriminate.
Of all perpetrators who abused female children only, psychological test results and/or psychiatric institutionalization showed that 5 (77%) of the independent offenders had suffered emotional disturbance. Two independent offenders were not believed to have been mentally ill; none of the four co-offenders suffered emotional disturbance. Of the eight offending mothers who abused only male children, only two were found to have documented mental illnesses. In both cases where the mother sexually abused male and female children, emotional disturbance was evident.
The author reported that six independent offenders, two co- offenders and one accomplice had serious drug abuse problems. All independent offenders and 80% of accomplices were reported to be of average intelligence. 56% of co-offenders were considered borderline intelligence.
Father absence was eminent for three of the independent offender cases. The author stated that this was consistent with previous research that suggested mothers turn to their sons for sexual gratification in the absence of the father. Four of the independent offenders of females only, who sole parent, abuse very young daughters. The author reported that these mothers were attentive, but treated their daughters as a part of themselves.
The author stated that although physically present, 12 of the co-offenders and accomplices were emotionally and physically neglectful. Only two of the co-offenders and one accomplice were viewed as good parents. The author contended that this paralleled suggestions by Groth (1982) that the absence of the mother, during the child's formative years, may be contribute towards mother-child incest.
The author concluded that victims in this study suffered in a similar way to victims of male perpetrators of incestuous abuse. Effects of the abuse were, however, reduced when the abuse was reported early and when support and protection of the victim was provided.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
Texas
Mother Offender
Incest Offender
Sexual Assault Offender
Female Violence
Female Offender
Domestic Violence Offender
Child Abuse Offender
Offender Characteristics
Parent Offender
Adult Offender
Adult Violence
Child Sexual Abuse Offender
Adult Female
Case Studies
11-99
Language: en |