The Post-bag Emptied: Letters To Squall

Homelessness And Sexual Abuse

Squall 4, April/May 1993, pg. 26.

Human Rights For Child Abuse Survivors

Squall,

I was very interested to see the prominence given (SQUALL 2) to the issue of homelessness and its relationship to sexual abuse. Unfortunately men, as well as women, are victims of sexual abuse. Men usually find it even more difficult to “come out” as abuse survivors. There are also rather significant numbers of female abusers. According to official Government statistics only about 2% of abusers are female but people actually working with survivors put the figure at 20% or 30%. So I’m afraid the CHAR figures you quote may be a little inaccurate and out of date. I am concerned that men reading these figures may feel alienated by them, just as women who were abused by females.

Of course, the fact that you are willing to stress the crucially significant connection between the politics of homelessness and the politics of sexual abuse is what really matters.

Best wishes,

Michael Charles.

CHAR Replies

Squall,

I would like to respond to Michael Charles' letter and his concern that men may feel alienated by the statistics Squall quoted from CHAR’s survey of sexually abused homeless young women. It is clearly true that men. as well as women, are abused as children; the CHAR report does not try to deny or obscure this fact. CHAR’s study looked specifically at the links between sexual abuse and homelessness in young women rather than young people for a number of reasons; the number of bed spaces available for women in comparison to men is minimal in London and worse throughout the country.

Incidences of women experiencing sexual harassment and abuse in mixed hostels is now recognised as a real problem, and should be taken on board by housing planners, housing associations and all housing providers.

The CHAR report therefore was the first of its kind to give women themselves the opportunity to speak out about the problems they faced when seeking accommodation in order to escape from sexually abusive situations. Women are traditionally silenced or ignored by policy makers and housing providers and so it was felt to be important for women’s voices to be heard independently.

As more men speak of their experiences of sexual abuse, male survivor groups are now emerging to provide support for men who now feel able to talk about their abuse. One such group is “Survivors” for male victims of sexual violence, PO Box 2470, London W2 1NW.

I am very concerned with Mr Charles’ statement that suggests 20 to 30 per cent of abuse is perpetrated by women, and that people working with survivors put the figure this high. Which people? Dr Cathy Roberts of SCOSAC (The Standing Committee On the Sexual Abuse of Children) has recently reviewed existing research about female abusers. It is true that some very badly researched material with unjustified results quote high incidences of female perpetrators. However, in all serious studies, the figure is never higher than 10% and is usually nearer 1%. In many cases women abuse after being coerced by a male perpetrator. Please contact Dr Roberts at SCOSAC for more detailed information about this.

As the media is filled with often wholly inaccurate coverage of the sexual abuse of children it is important for survivors to see their experiences recorded sensitively and accurately so that no-one is denied a voice or silenced as adults, as we often are as children.

Yours faithfully,

Dawn McRobbie,
4 in 10 Development worker,
CHAR.