In Ursula Hegi's Stones From the River , Trudi Montag, the central character is sexually abused as a young child. Two other characters, Hedwig Weiler and Ingrid, are also sexually abused as children. Because of this abuse, these characters show symptoms that are typical of such victims. Because children are abused most often by someone they know and love, the child usually trusts the abuser. Although sexual offenders are not limited to a single race, sex, or sexual preference, most victims are female.
Many sources estimate that one in every four girls has been sexually abused.
There are many physical effects of sexual abuse on girls. Most girls who have been sexually abused will display one or more of these symptoms. The physical symptoms, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, include anal or vaginal redness, pain or bleeding, unusual discharge from the anus or vagina, sexually transmitted diseases, and repeated urinary tract infections. Sexual abuse can also lead to changes in behavior. Some of these behavioral signs, says Linda Cain, are bedwetting, difficulty at bath time, changes in sleeping habits, and nightmares.