The social categorization of sexual abuse
Date
2024-03-21
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Abstract
Mida peame seksuaalseks väärkohtlemiseks? Millised inimesed meie arvates lapsi seksuaalselt vääkohtlevad? Keda peame ohtlikuks? Keda süüdistame? Kas kohtleme ohvreid võrdselt abi väärivatena või leiame, et mõned ohvrid väärivad abi enam kui teised? Kas eksisteerib mingisugune ohvrite hierarhia? Kas ohvrite uskumine on oluline? Kuidas meie suhtumine ohvritesse neid mõjutada võib? Need on kõik küsimused, mida käesolevas töös uuritakse. Doktoritöö eesmärk oli välja selgitada, kuidas inimesed mõistavad ja mõtestavad laste seksuaalset väärkohtlemist ja selle riski ning milline on väärkohtlemisega seotud arusaamade mõju. Töö tugineb kolmele kvalitatiivsele uuringule, mis keskenduvad ohvritele, lapsevanematele ja üldpopulatsioonile.
Töös leitakse, et inimesed kipuvad ära tundma väärkohtlemist, mis „näeb selgelt välja“ nagu kuritegu, nt kui sellega kaasneb füüsiline vägivald ja nähtavad vigastused. Ühiskondlik arusaam sellest, mis on seksuaalne väärkohtlemine, on oluliselt piiravam kui seadustes sätestatu. Toimepanijaid kujutatakse sageli ülejäänud ühiskonnast erinavana (st kuidagi äratuntava või teistsugusena) ja ohvreid kõrvutatakse „tõelise ohvri“ stereotüübiga (nt alla 10-aastased, nähtavalt traumeeritud lapsed). Teismeealisi kõrvutatakse enam täiskasvanud naistega ja „lapse“ tähendus laste seksuaalse väärkohtlemise kontekstis üldjuhul ei hõlma teismelisi. Väärkohtlemise mõju hinnatakse suuresti lähtudes ohvriga seotud omadustest, mistõttu ei olnud harv järeldus, et teismelisi või riskikäitumisega noori kahjustab väärkohtlemine vähem (kui teisi ohvreid).
Eelkirjeldatud arusaamad mõjutavad seda, kuidas väärkohtlemisele reageerime ja ohvritesse suhtume. Reeglina suhtutakse ohvritesse, kes mahuvad „tõelise ohvri“ stereotüübi raamidesse empaatiliselt ja neid julgustatakse juhtunust teatama (nt vanematele või politseile). Seevastu ohvreid, kes stereotüübi raamidesse ei sobitu, pigem häbistatakse ja soovitatakse abi otsimisest loobuda. Kokkuvõttes toob töö esile, kuidas ühiskondlikud „lood“ seksuaalsest väärkohtlemisest loovad raamistiku, mis mõjutab nii seda, kuidas inimesed teemat mõistavad ja mõtestavad, sellest kõnelevad, ohvritesse ja toimepanijatesse suhtuvad, kui ka seda, kuidas ohvrid juhtunut ja iseennast mõtestavad ja abi otsimisel käituvad. Väitekirja lõpus on toodud praktilised soovitused ning ettepanekud edasisteks uuringuteks.
In our minds, what exactly counts as child sexual abuse? Who do we consider as people who commit such acts? What do we associate with the risk of sexual abuse? Who do we consider dangerous? Who do we blame? Are all sexual abuse victims seen as deserving of help, or are some victims seen as less deserving? Is there a hierarchy of victims? Does it matter whether we believe them? How does our behavior toward victims impact them? These are all questions explored in this thesis. Aiming to conceptualize and explain public perceptions of child sexual abuse and the observable implications of these perceptions, this thesis drew on three qualitative studies focusing on victims, parents, and the general public. This thesis introduces novel perspectives on how society views and reacts to sexual abuse, blending insights from sociology, law, victimology, criminology, and psychology. It reveals that abuse is more likely recognized when it visibly resembles a crime, like when there is evident violence or injury. Most importantly, the social “understanding” of what constitutes sexual abuse is far more limiting than what the law describes as such. Offenders are typically portrayed as somehow different from the rest of the population and victims are judged against the “ideal victim” stereotype – i.e., young, innocent, visibly traumatized children. Teenagers or those seen as risk-takers are often viewed as less harmed, a notion rooted in conditional harmfulness, inaccurately judging abuse impact based on victim attributes. Overall, in people’s perceptions, the “child” in child sexual abuse rarely includes teenagers. These perceptions deeply affect responses to abuse, influencing the support and belief extended to victims. Those fitting the “ideal victim” mold receive empathy and are urged to report abuse, while those who do not, are usually shamed and discouraged from seeking help. Ultimately, the thesis reveals how societal “stories” about sexual abuse create a framework that influences everything from social categorization of sexual abuse to victims’ self-perceptions and post-abuse behavior. It highlights the challenges victims face, not just in dealing with the abuse but also in navigating the societal expectations and judgments that come with it. The thesis concludes with practical recommendations and suggestions for future research.
In our minds, what exactly counts as child sexual abuse? Who do we consider as people who commit such acts? What do we associate with the risk of sexual abuse? Who do we consider dangerous? Who do we blame? Are all sexual abuse victims seen as deserving of help, or are some victims seen as less deserving? Is there a hierarchy of victims? Does it matter whether we believe them? How does our behavior toward victims impact them? These are all questions explored in this thesis. Aiming to conceptualize and explain public perceptions of child sexual abuse and the observable implications of these perceptions, this thesis drew on three qualitative studies focusing on victims, parents, and the general public. This thesis introduces novel perspectives on how society views and reacts to sexual abuse, blending insights from sociology, law, victimology, criminology, and psychology. It reveals that abuse is more likely recognized when it visibly resembles a crime, like when there is evident violence or injury. Most importantly, the social “understanding” of what constitutes sexual abuse is far more limiting than what the law describes as such. Offenders are typically portrayed as somehow different from the rest of the population and victims are judged against the “ideal victim” stereotype – i.e., young, innocent, visibly traumatized children. Teenagers or those seen as risk-takers are often viewed as less harmed, a notion rooted in conditional harmfulness, inaccurately judging abuse impact based on victim attributes. Overall, in people’s perceptions, the “child” in child sexual abuse rarely includes teenagers. These perceptions deeply affect responses to abuse, influencing the support and belief extended to victims. Those fitting the “ideal victim” mold receive empathy and are urged to report abuse, while those who do not, are usually shamed and discouraged from seeking help. Ultimately, the thesis reveals how societal “stories” about sexual abuse create a framework that influences everything from social categorization of sexual abuse to victims’ self-perceptions and post-abuse behavior. It highlights the challenges victims face, not just in dealing with the abuse but also in navigating the societal expectations and judgments that come with it. The thesis concludes with practical recommendations and suggestions for future research.
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