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Child Sexual Abuse in the United States and Its Long Term Effects

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Child Sexual Abuse in the United States and its Long Term Effects
David Andrade
Liberty University
SOCI-201

Robert D. Clark
May 5, 2014

Abstract
This will be a paper to demonstrate the staggering number of sexual abuse cases in the United States and its long term effects on children and adults. My interest in this topic is due to the fact that I have been sexually abused as a child and have been researching about the long term effects in people who do not come forward with this problem. Many people have been able to recover from the damaging effects of sexual abuse, however, many still suffer from past memories and present debilitations. This paper aims to expose 5 facts about sexual abuse in children as well as statistics, adverse effects, prevention strategies, how homosexuality can be traced back to child abuse, how to recognize if your child has been abused, and reasons why people abuse children. I will also share some of my personal experiences in order to help the reader understand the damaging effect that child sex abuse has on a child and how it evolves into worse acts if not treated quickly.

Child Sexual Abuse in the United States and its Long Term Effects
Child sexual abuse is a form of abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual purposes. These purposes can range from sexual activity regardless of outcome, exposure to pornographic materials, and even to produce child pornography. It is the one crime that can occur anywhere whether it be school, playgrounds, work, and home. In a way, children who are abused become victimized due to the fact that there are adults or adolescent who take pleasure in stimulating children sexually and because the child is so vulnerable and fragile, crimes of this nature usually go undiscovered until the child feels like he/she is being harmed and/or fears worse things that can happen. A

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