1 in 2 women report unwanted sexual contact before the age of 18. 1 in 6 men will have been sexually abused before age 18. Abusers often begin to secure a promise of secrecy during the set-up stage by allowing the child to participate in activities that the child s parents disapprove of, creating a climate of excitement, or he may threaten that the enjoyed activities will end if others become aware of their special relationship . The set-up stage may last for moments, hours or years before the abuse happens and usually will only be recognized by the child or others in retrospect. The second stage of sexual abuse moves from trust to betrayal.
Appropriate touch is replaced by touch that is inappropriate.
The child s dignity is violated. Choice is denied and the child becomes powerless to stop the abuse. Secrecy may be secured with tenderness or threats, privileges or pain. The amount of trauma a child experiences is unique to each child, his developmental stage, personality, and the quality of his supportive relationships. The length of time the secret is kept.