Celebrity Reveals Sexual Child Abuse
In her autobiography, “Home: A Memoir of My Early Years,” Julie Andrews reveals the all too often kept dark secret of sexual abuse. Andrews reveals that when she was fifteen, her stepfather, who was drunk lunged toward her saying, “I really must teach you how to kiss properly.” He then kissed her full on the lips. Andrews states, “It was a deep, moist kiss – a horrible experience.” He tried to repeat his endeavor to teach Andrews how to kiss properly, she fended him off. She also, installed a bolt on her bedroom door and managed to avoid being alone with him.
Andrews does not reveal if she told anyone. One might wonder if she did tell, what was done. Since she did not reveal that she told, my guess is that she did not. Not telling about the sexual abuse is a sad state of affairs, because it leaves the person, as well as others, vulnerable to being abused. Yet, this is a common response to this horrific experience.
Girls are scripted and rewarded to not cause a scene and to be cute and demur. Boys are scripted and rewarded to be strong, and to exhibit bravery in every situation. The typical child sex offender molests an average of 117 children, most do not report the offense – National Institute of Mental Health. 1988 This statistic has remained consistent for many decades.
Child sexual abuse is the greatest hidden epidemic in the world. U.S. statistics reveal as high as 62 percent of females and 31 percent of males will be sexually violated before age 18.
“If a disease affected our children in these enormous numbers we would declare a national emergency. Monies for research to find a cure would be made available immediately.” States Claire R. Reeves, President/Founder/Chief Executive Office of Mothers Against Sexual Abuse – MASA
Prevention has eluded all of society, even passionate and committed prevention advocates, because society concentrates the majority of efforts entirely on repairing the damage. Over the last several years many informative and educational books have been written about incest and child sexual abuse. That this heretofore taboo subject is being addressed is of the utmost importance to enlighten society regarding this heinous crime against our innocent children. While this terrible crime has been expounded on extensively, little has been offered in the way of preventing it.
Children, as young as two or three years old can thwart a would-be sex offender if they are
armed with the permission and knowledge. Parents need to empower their children and support them in the ownership of their bodies and their lives.
Source by Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD
