No one event can change such a core part of someone s identity. Incest is a form of childhood sexual abuse in which the offender is related by blood, marriage, or other affinity to the child. Victims range in age from infancy to late adolescence. Sometimes, a child is told to touch or penetrate the abuser or another child. Many abusers try to make a child believe that the child desired or even initiated the sexual activity.
Children sometimes do experience physical pleasure from contact.
However, certain responses, such as erection and ejaculation, are based in physiology and do not prove desire or consent. The ability to understand, let alone consent to, a sexual relationship is far beyond the emotional and cognitive capacity of a pre-adolescent . Statistics show that one out of four girls will be abused before her 18 th birthday, as will one out of seven boys. By logging onto this site, you are taking an important first step in your healing process. However, we are not able to take into account your individual questions and concerns over the Internet.