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Myths
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Most offenders are strangers. |
All offenders were sexually abused as children. |
All offenders look creepy and weird. |
Facts |
Adults who sexually abuse children usually know the child in some capacity. |
There is a much higher percentage of males than females sexually offending against children. |
Adults who sexually abuse children can also be in adult sexual relationships. |
Offenders may test a child’s boundaries in front of other adults by ‘accidentally’ touching the child in private areas while rubbing her/his back, tickling, wrestling, cuddling, etc. |
Sexual abuse that does not include contact can still have a psychological and emotional impact on victims. |
Some offenders know as early as adolescence that they have a sexual interest in children. |