UNITED STATES
Generation X
The following is a guest post from Joelle Casteix, author of The Well-Armored Child: A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Sexual Abuse, due out September 15. I’ve written about childhood sexual assault many times on this blog, particularly as it relates to Generation X, so be sure to review the related posts section at this end of this article. It’s a privilege to share this humble space with Joelle and shine a light on a problem that can be so devastating and difficult for families to navigate.
By Joelle Casteix
You have just learned that your 14-year-old son has been sexually molesting his younger sisters as they slept. What do you do?
You can call the police. They may arrest your son and take him to a juvenile detention facility. Once there, you have no idea what will happen. Will he have a record? Will his life be ruined? Will your whole family be placed under the spotlight? Will your son have to become a registered sex offender?
You have second option: you can keep quiet and find a facility that treats sexually offending youth. But the few that do exist are expensive. Can you afford it? If your friends and neighbors find out, will your family be shunned? Will your son’s chances for jobs, higher education, sports, and marriage evaporate? If other parents find out, your daughters’ friends may no longer be able to come to your house. You may even have to move away to escape the stigma.
Then there is the final option: you can make your son promise to never do it again, take no action, and protect your son and his future.
And what about your daughters? Well, they seem okay. You have them in therapy. You’re keeping an eye on them.
So, what do you decide?
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.