NCJ Number
207614
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 13 Issue: 5 Dated: September-October 2004 Pages: 353-359
Editor(s)
David Gough,
Nicky Stanley
Date Published
September 2004
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article reports findings from a study of male sexual abuse by both female and male perpetrators in Zimbabwean schools and the cycle of silence perpetuating the rarely reported form of child abuse in African society.
Abstract
Throughout the world, the occurrence of male sexual abuse by either female or male perpetrators has been disregarded. In addition, many reasons have been given for the under-reporting of male sexual abuse, such as cultural expectations. However, due to the seriousness of HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe, as well as overall in Africa, both female and male sexual abuse of male students cannot be ignored. Previous studies indicate that sexual abuse and physical abuse are the most prevalent forms of child abuse perpetrated by teachers in Zimbabwean schools, yet in Africa, male sexual abuse is considered a taboo by most societies. This study examined only reported cases of male pupil sexual abuse by female or male teachers. The study was limited in its findings. It found four cases of male sexual abuse by male primary school teachers and one case of male sexual abuse by a female secondary school teacher reported in two of the six regional offices of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture. Even though the study found only these few cases, it was clear that the findings highlighted a rarely reported form of child abuse. References