Sunday, 11 February 2018

Sexual Abuse; What's Your Story?





Case Story

Amaka, a very beautiful girl has been dating John for quite some time now with hope they would get married, they have had a very fruitful relationship until things went sour, john started taking bad advice from friends and peers, until he came home one Friday drunk and demanded sex from Amaka, when she refused he beat her and in the process forced himself on her. Simi, a maid brought in from the village has been receiving sweets and gift from her madam’s husband just to make her a second bed warmer anytime his wife travels, on most cases if she refuses he will threaten and over power her and even deny her food for that day, Dele the Most handsome guy in the area has been reduced to a cellophane because of multiple assault on his life by gangs of girls, older and ruthless than him, on most cases he would be raped with guns to his head, dele would run at the sight of any girl he sees. Phillip an invalid admitted to undergo surgery in an hospital, was always looking exhausted and was never getting stronger after the surgery, it was a later discovered that a particular nurse was always assaulting him anytime she was on duty covering his mouth so that he won’t shout this story is drawn from fiction and real life occurrences.
While we think it’s not happening, everyday one or two persons are victims of molestation and sexual abuse with few persons having the courage to speak out, however most cases involve girls of all ages with teenagers and younger adults predominantly.  There are also reported cases of pedophilia where children or juveniles are lured with sweets and gifts and sexually molested by adults old enough to be their guardians, parent and grandparents, with these children not been able to speak because they are bribed and threatened by these offenders

SEXUAL ABUSE
Sexual abuse also referred to as molestation is an unwanted sexual desire by one person against another person without the person’s consent usually through the act of force or threats, others might be through violence or blackmail, however when force is used it is leads to sexual assault, people who get involved in this act are known as sexual abusers or molesters. Sexual abuse as an act isn’t limited to a place or location it happens worldwide, it can happen anywhere, at home, work places and offices, schools, vehicles, bus parks and even places of worship,  and daily people face countless cases of sexual harassment from friends and strangers.

VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE
Sexual abuse is not limited to females only, while most sexually abuses male will be too ashamed to admit because of societal notion that a man abused by a woman is not a man, and the fear of being ridiculed by other men so most males don’t report their experiences and sometimes cases like this are not taking seriously like cases of rape and domestic violence against women by their husbands. Victims of sexual abuses are spouses, children, sick people and the old and elderly people.


SPOUSES
Amaka’s case above though she is yet to be married to john is one of the few occurrences happening in Nigeria and the world, it also involves married couples, with some wives losing their lives in the process, spouse sexual assault is a form of domestic violence and  most perpetrators are either sane or under the influence of external factors such as alcohol, marijuana and peer pressure.

Children
There have been reported cases of  sexual assault against minors, Simi’s case is no different, most adult has conditions that make them unnaturally sexually attracted to children, thus any children around them become victims of sexual assault, this condition is known as pedophilia, and the offenders are known as pedophiles, even sane adults still engage in this act and some children when assaulted become mentally and physically scarred with some girls growing up to become nymphomaniacs with an addiction for sex. Sexual assault against children is a crime against humanity and against God and should be discourage and offenders given a heavy sentence.

SICK PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
As stated previously, sexual assault can happen anywhere, just the like case of Phillip in the hospital; people having no ability to defend themselves because they are sick can be sexually assaulted even by the people meant to care for them, that is one of the few cases as some mentally unstable people often referred to as madmen or women and disabled people are also victims of sexual assault by some unscrupulous people, who derive joy in lying with mad people.

Old people
In terms of being assaulted sexually, old people are also victims too, with reported cases of grandmothers being assaulted by people old enough to be their grandsons, old people sometimes have dementia unable to remember the event of an assault can be repeatedly assaulted.

Effects of sexual abuse
Sexual abuse has been known to cause serious problems in the society such as the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, like HIV, sickness, suicide and death, emotional and mental imbalances,  poor performances in academic and social life of the victims, some female respond negatively by becoming nymphomaniacs


CAUSES OF SEXUAL ABUSE
Sexual abuse can be caused by
1.       Indecent dressing
2.       Socioeconomic factors like poverty
3.       Alcohol and drug abuse
4.       Lack of awareness and sensitization
5.       Poor family background
6.       Nonchalance against cases of sexual abuse
7.       Abuse of power by agencies and individuals especially people in government

PREVENTION
Like every other man made factors in the society sexual abuse can be prevented, ways it can be done are;
1.       Sensitization and awareness against sexual abuse through the media, social media and private organizations
2.       Passing of laws against sexual offenders and effecting punishment
3.       Fight the scourge and warning against drug abuse
4.       Government agencies improving life and living its citizens
5.       Parents ensuring proper upbringing of their children by demonstrating love in the home
6.       Encouraging decent dressings by the females
7.       People sharing their experiences, for others to learn.

TREATMENT
People that has been sexually abused or victims of sexual assault can become disoriented physically, sexually and mentally with some of them becoming shadows of their formal self,  however this case is not above treatment, ways it can be treated are through.
1.       Rehabilitation
2.       Therapy
3.       Counseling
4.       Intervention of loved ones, friends and families.

Conclusion; sexual abuse is a problem in the society and it involves people of all ages gender and physical condition, it causes a great deal of health and economic conditions, it can be prevented and treated, and victims of sexual abuse can become normal after an abuse.