Why Children Should Be Educated about Sexual Abuse

First, I want to address what leads me to this topic...

Through the years I've been asked, "Why do you share your story?" or, "Don't most people want to forget their abuse and never talk about it again?" or, "What made you decide to be so open about your story?" and many more.

My simple answer is I do this for fellow survivors who aren't able to tell their story.

However, the more complex answer is that telling my story helps me feel I have a purpose. While what I endured as a child was awful, I share because I never want children to experience what I did. I want children to know they can tell an adult what is happening to them, how to find their voice, and how to use it. When I was going through my child sexual abuse I felt incredibly alone and I don't want other survivors to feel that darkness. The thing that helped me when I was beginning to address what happened to me was hearing from other survivors who weren't ashamed to share their stories.

I began educating myself because I wasn't taught as a child what abuse was, how to tell, or that it wasn't my fault.

The little girl in this picture was resilient, but very closed off, scared, and isolated. Somedays it is difficult to share my story, when I have those days I remind myself that I'm doing this work for that 8-year-old little girl. I'm speaking up for all of the young children who have no knowledge about sexual abuse and are going through it each day in silence, unsure of what to do. I was that child and wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy.

If I were educated at a young age about child sexual abuse in an age-appropriate manner, the likelihood that my child abuse would go on for years is slim. That's why I share my story. Education around this subject should not be taboo because it is a safety measure to ensure children speak up.

There was a time when I almost told my parents what was happening to me, I was about six years old and we were on our way to my Grandmother's house. I wasn't able to get help because when I tried to tell I didn't know what terminology to use to explain what was happening to me. I was six and didn't know the words rape, molestation, and sexual abuse. If I were educated about bad touch vs. good touch, human anatomy in simple terms, and the difference between good and bad secrets I could've been saved from two more years of sexual abuse by that man.

Keeping children safe should be the main focus of education in school and at home. I don't blame anyone in my life for not teaching me about sexual abuse because very few people know its importance first-hand.

There are several bills that would require education for children in public and secondary schools. One of these bills is entitled, "H.R. 5276 (118th Congress)- Preventing Sexual Abuse K-12 Student's Act of 2023". This bill will create a mandatory, age-appropriate sexual abuse awareness training in elementary and secondary schools. It will ensure school personnel receive specialized training on sexual abuse and misconduct awareness and prevention. The bill will make sure that students can identify acceptable and unacceptable behavior for school personnel and other students. The implementation of codes of conduct will prevent sexual abuse of students.

For more information on this bill click the link below!