NCJ Number
184225
Date Published
1999
Length
38 pages
Annotation
This chapter considers transcultural aspects of sexual victimization.
Abstract
The chapter investigates culturally relative versus universally absolute ideas about morality and appropriateness in gender and adult-child relationships. The chapter examines the importance of cultural context and social response in defining behaviors as sexually exploitative and in developing appropriate approaches to treating victims. Culture is defined as the normative belief systems, attitudes, values, behavioral and religious practices, and overall worldview of a particular ethnic or national group, typically bound by common traditions and language, assessed at a particular point in its history. The chapter discusses cultural norms and views of human sexuality; cultural constructions of child sexual abuse, incest and rape; definition of sexual assault and attribution of culpability in modern societies; ethnic and cultural differences in victims’ responses to rape; cultural differences in risk factors, reporting and use of services; ethnic differences in child sexual abuse and juvenile offending; and ethnic diversity, minority status, and treatment implications. References