Sexual abuse

For the academic journal, see Sexual Abuse (journal).
"Sex abuse" redirects here. For self-inflicted unhealthy sexual behavior, see Sexual addiction.

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Sexual abuse or sex abuse is abusive sexual behavior by one person upon another. It is often perpetrated using physical force, or by taking advantage of another.[1] Sexual abuse is a term used for a persistent pattern of sexual assaults.[2] The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser. Live streaming sexual abuse involves trafficking and coerced sexual acts, and/or rape, in real time on webcam.[3][4][5][6]

Molestation often refers to an instance of sexual assault against a small child. The perpetrator is called (often pejoratively)[7] a molester. The term also covers behavior by an adult or older adolescent towards a child to sexually stimulate any of the involved. The use of a child for sexual stimulation is referred to as child sexual abuse and, for pubescent or post-pubescent individuals younger than the age of consent, statutory rape.

Sexual abuse can be perpetrated against other vulnerable populations like the elderly, a form of elder abuse, or those with developmental disabilities.

  1. ^ "Sexual abuse". American Psychological Association. 2018 American Psychological Association. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Child Molestation vs. Sexual Abuse". Manly, Stewart & Finaldi. 2021-05-24. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  3. ^ Brown, Rick; Napier, Sarah; Smith, Russell G (2020), Australians who view live streaming of child sexual abuse: An analysis of financial transactions, Australian Institute of Criminology, ISBN 9781925304336 pp. 1–4.
  4. ^ "Child Sex Abuse Livestreams Increase During Coronavirus Lockdowns". NPR. April 8, 2020. Archived from the original on May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  5. ^ "Philippines child slavery survivors fight to heal scars of abuse". Reuters. April 8, 2020. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  6. ^ "What is Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation?". NCA. 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-04-26. Retrieved 2020-05-15.
  7. ^ "Peer commentaries on Green (2002) and Schmidt (2002)". Archives of Sexual Behavior. 31 (6): 479–503. 2002. doi:10.1023/A:1020603214218. S2CID 102340546. Child molester is a pejorative term applied to both the pedophile and incest offender.