Female sex offenders exist, and there are no shortage of news stories proving women that sexually abuse children is a growing problem.
Glynis Whiting produced an in-depth investigation on one of the most under-reported crimes in North America. Ms. Whiting wrote and directed a provocative documentary, “When Girls Do It: The Story of Female Sex Predators“. As Ms. Whiting states, “We're always shocked to hear stories of sexual abuse, but it seems all the more disturbing when the abusers are women.”
On October 30, 1991 the Hamilton Spectator reported that the Central Toronto Youth Services estimated that the number of abusive women in Canada is in the tens of thousands.
In March 2007, a report by the Center for Sex Offender Management (U.S. Dept. of Justice), data from sex offender treatment programs across the U.S. indicates that one third of programs provide services to females. About 3,800 adult women and 2,700 adolescent girl offenders were getting services. This is nearly twice the number of female sex offenders that had been served in programs two years prior.
Male Victims Rarely Come Forward
Sexual abuse is under-reported by both females and males. Males however are in a particularly delicate situation. Even though both females and males fear disclosing, males hold back more. They are by far less likely to disclose sex crimes committed by women due to the following reasons:
A cultural bias that males can't be victims.
If the male responded sexually in any way he feels responsible.
Male victims of abuse struggle with issues of homosexuality.
Negative judgment by family and friends.
Fear of being teased: “You must have enjoyed it.” “How could you not like a woman coming on to you."
Embarrassment or confusion.
What Type of Woman Sexually Abuses?
According to Anne C. Salter, a psychologist who wrote “Predators, Rapists and Other Sex Offenders”, female sex offenders fall into three categories. The first group often victimizes their own biological children, mostly under the age of six. The second group is the “teacher/lover” group. They have sex with children in the groups in which they are involved, are usually around 30 years old, and have sex with males about 15 years old. The third group are coerced into sexual encounters with children by an abusive male partner.
Effects on Male Victims
Males are affected in as many ways as female victims are. They suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. They tend to have dysfunctional relationships, self harm, and are at high risk for drug or alcohol dependency.
If a young boy does not disclose, then serious issues can affect him later in life. Many male victims become preoccupied with sex. They may exhibit promiscuity, compulsive, aggressive and self destructive sexual behaviors.
Twenty year old Kevin (not his real name), spent most of his adolescent years in foster homes. His behaviors became too much for his mother and he was placed into the foster care system. On numerous occasions he was sexually abused by his mother's best friend. As an adolescent, Kevin perpetuated the cycle by giving sexual favors to older women in return for alcohol and cigarettes. By the time he got out of care at the age of 18, his unresolved anger was targeted at girls his age. He became a sex perpetrator.
Researchers Petrovich and Templer found that some men who rape and are sexually aggressive were sexually abused as a child by a woman.
Women Not Getting Same Sentencing as Male Perpetrators
Men still commit sex offenses at a much higher rate than women, this can't be disputed. However, women are not receiving the equivalent sentencing in the court system compared to their male counterparts. A recent example is on October 29, 2008. Canwest News Services reported that a former Cornwall junior high school teacher who sexually assaulted one of her 13 year old male students was sentenced to six months in jail. Sun Media portrayed Jennifer Toews as a “sex-craving” teacher.
Getting Help
If you are a male, young or old and need help, call your doctor or clergy. They can find appropriate resources for you. If you suspect that a child is being sexually abused, regardless of the perpetrator being female or male, call the police.
The copyright of the article Female Sex Offenders in Sexual Abuse is owned by Karen Stephenson. Permission to republish Female Sex Offenders in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
This is a great article. I think there is yet another category of female
sex offender. One that coerced their male partner to protisapate.It's not
always the male that is dominate in every case. However this is not
something that is talked about. Also this is a great defense for women
offenders to get less of a sentence .Women do have power over males when it
comes to sex. If not hookers would be out of business.Come's back to the
original sin.
Dec 29, 2008 6:47 PM
Guest :
This is a wonderful view of how a little girl/boy could feel after being
abused. Hopefully this would catch the hearts of others and help them
Jan 3, 2009 6:38 AM
Guest :
this is a much needed article on such a unreported subject, at least here
in the uk, but has no information relating to women who sexually abuse
thier daughters or young girls. there is still a serious lack of
information and public knowledge in our society when it comes to female sex
abuse and until this changes our children will always be at risk
Jan 10, 2009 10:33 PM
Guest :
Good article. For the guest on Jan 3 here is a link to a site that has
information and research about mother/daughter sexual abuse (and female
offenders in general). There are two posts there titled Mother-Daughter
sexual abuse with the second one having a II on the end.
http://whataboutwhenmomistheabuser.blogspot.com/
Jan 21, 2009 12:30 PM
Guest :
I used to work with a teen who was sexual abused by his mother's best
friend...and I tell you. Abuse is horrid but for women commiting this
offence makes it way worse the way I see it.....and there's a lot of women
out there....look at all the teachers that've made headlines.... it is
warped how the news spins more sympathy on female aggressors.... makes ya
want to throw up.
Jan 24, 2009 10:05 PM
Guest :
I look at the image here above. I remeber looking into my little sister's
eyes ...I knew after the abuse was over that she would ever recover..or
wandered off and never be found again...The healing is slow and long and
painful.
Jan 24, 2009 10:10 PM
Guest :
I have to agree walking through the scenes of abuse past and present ..it
is hard to get the mental images of rape abuse and molestation out of my
mind. I almost lost it...when I resalized I can get help as a member of the
victim's family..I might not be intheir inner circle..but sexual abuse
almost destroyed and paralyzed me with fear and emotional mental and
physical pain. the torture I went through to survive rape ..I am just
grateful that suffering is over as well as the night terrors and sexual
abuse and abusive remarks ..that are unwarranted and unwelcomed.
Apr 15, 2009 12:56 PM
Guest :
this article is so true! people need to be aware that even children as
young as 4 yrs old have the ability and desire to molest. I should know, i
had to prosecute my own step daughter at the age of 14 yrs for molesting my
children since they were babies. the investigator told me to always trust
my gut. please remember that. if you have a weird feeling about someone in
your childs life, remove them from the chance of being harmed. protect your
children and always trust your gut.
Aug 9, 2009 10:53 PM
Guest :
"This is a great article. I think there is yet another category of
female sex offender. One that coerced their male partner to
protisapate.It's not always the male that is dominate in every case.
However this is not something that is talked about. Also this is a great
defense for women offenders to get less of a sentence .Women do have power
over males when it comes to sex. If not hookers would be out of
business.Come's back to the original sin."
That's a gross
generalization and should be stated as such.
Oct 23, 2009 7:48 AM
Guest :
Wonderful article.. The society should be unbiased to gender and protect
any child from its predator be it male or female. We should not be
sympathetic to female molesters who do permanent physical and psychological
damage to an innocent male victim.
The entire society should
come forward and help the victim to support and not let him suffer in
silence
