Child Sexual Abuse Perpetrated by Women: Case Series and Review of the Literature

Journal of Forensic Sciences
Serena Maria CurtiGiancarlo Di Vella

Abstract

The literature on child sexual abuse (CSA) perpetrated by female sexual offenders (FSOs) is exiguous, and many studies have focused on judicial databases. The present retrospective study, instead, analyzed clinical and judicial data of a group of both victims and alleged FSOs, to additionally include women who have not been convicted by the criminal justice system, but who hold strong clinical suspicions of being perpetrators of CSA. The medical records and the Court files of 11 children and their eight suspected FSOs have been collected and critically reviewed in light of the literature to date. This approach allowed for a deeper understanding of the relationship between child and FSO. The authors hypothesize that the victims' severe psychopathological outcomes were a result of a failure to develop appropriate attachments with their prospective caregivers, which could have been damaged by the pathological relationship with FSOs, who were the victims' caregivers.

References

Apr 1, 1982·Archives of Sexual Behavior·P M Sarrel, W H Masters
Aug 1, 1995·Child Abuse & Neglect·M M RudinJ Bodmer-Turner
Sep 1, 1994·Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry·A H Green, M S Kaplan
Jan 1, 1994·Harvard Review of Psychiatry·B A van der Kolk
Feb 4, 1998·Development and Psychopathology·P Fonagy, M Target
Jul 17, 1998·Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine·N D KelloggS Menard
Aug 31, 2002·Child Abuse & Neglect·Astrid HegerRaphael Bernier
Jun 24, 2004·Sexual Abuse : a Journal of Research and Treatment·Donna M Vandiver, Glen Kercher
May 17, 2005·American Journal of Preventive Medicine·Shanta R DubeWayne H Giles
May 26, 2005·Journal of Child Sexual Abuse·Christopher J Ferguson, D Cricket Meehan
Oct 20, 2006·Biological Psychology·Stephen W Porges
Jan 6, 2007·Trauma, Violence & Abuse·Brian E Oliver
Mar 3, 2007·Sexual Abuse : a Journal of Research and Treatment·Jeffrey C Sandler, Naomi J Freeman
Feb 16, 2008·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Susan M Strickland
Mar 20, 2008·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Naomi J Freeman, Jeffrey C Sandler
Aug 15, 2008·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Tracey Peter
Sep 9, 2008·Sexual Abuse : a Journal of Research and Treatment·Theresa A GannonTony Ward
Nov 26, 2010·Sexual Abuse : a Journal of Research and Treatment·Franca CortoniMarie-Ève Coache
Jan 25, 2011·Journal of Child Sexual Abuse·Rebecca Deering, David Mellor
May 11, 2012·International Journal of Law and Psychiatry·Christos TsopelasAthanassios Douzenis
Oct 12, 2013·International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology·Kristen Budd, Scott A Desmond
Aug 1, 2014·Sexual Abuse : a Journal of Research and Treatment·Katria S Williams, David M Bierie
Nov 19, 2014·Sexual Abuse : a Journal of Research and Treatment·Steven M GillespieAnthony R Beech
Jan 31, 2015·Journal of Child Sexual Abuse·David Axlyn McLeod
May 15, 2015·Sexual Abuse : a Journal of Research and Treatment·Franca Cortoni
Jul 30, 2015·Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology·Joyce A AdamsSuzanne P Starling
May 5, 2017·Journal of Child Sexual Abuse·Patricia I CoburnDeborah A Connolly
Oct 19, 2017·Child Abuse & Neglect·Katie WrightKathleen McPhillips

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 1, 2019·Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology·Francesco LuparielloGiancarlo Di Vella
Aug 23, 2019·Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology·Francesco Lupariello

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.