"Deaf ears and closed minds : do you hear the child's voice?" : exploring disclosures from the perspective of child rape victims.
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Date
2008
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Abstract
Despite recent increases in public, media and research concern with the issue of child rape, not
much is known about the disclosure of this phenomenon. This study focused on exploring
disclosure from the perspective of child rape victims (i.e., elucidating the subjective meaning of
disclosure for children, as well as exploring the circumstances, and factors that facilitate or
hinder disclosure). The sampling frame included 16 cases of child rape (12 girls and 4 boys) in
the age range 5-17 years old, with 12 years being the average age of the children.
The process of thematic analysis revealed three broad thematic areas, as well as a number of
dominant and sub-themes. The first broad thematic area, Pre-Disclosure, provides insight into
the intrapersonal process children undergo in the aftermath of rape; the children's thoughts and
anxieties in coming to understand that they have been raped; and the decision-making process
they underwent prior to disclosing their rape experience(s). The second thematic area,
Disclosure, provides insight into the children's lived experiences of disclosing their rape and of
the disclosure process. At this point in the disclosure process, disclosure is not only experienced
at the intrapersonal level, but is experienced in relation to others (interpersonal level). Lastly,
Post-Disclosure, provides insight into the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and intergroup/
institutional influences in the aftermath of disclosure that play a role in the child's feelings
about having disclosed, their evaluation if disclosing was worthwhile, and their decision to
engage in subsequent disclosures (i.e., to keep telling).
The present study indicated that disclosure can best be conceptualised using the 'Tipping the
Balance' model (London Family Court Clinic, 1995). This theoretical model employs a scale as
a metaphor for the competing influences on a child who is sexually victimised, and proposes that
a fragile balancing act precedes the decision to disclose (London Family Court Clinic, 1995).
Such a decision is affected by competing pressures (intrapersonal, interpersonal and intergroup/
institutional), and by what the present study has identified as facilitators and inhibitors. In
each child's case, the balance must tip so that the facilitators and perceived benefits outweigh the
influence of the many factors which can inhibit disclosure (London Family Court Clinic, 1995).
In addition, the decision to use the ecosystemic theory as a conceptual framework for the present research proved to be of heuristic value as it recognises the multiple levels of influence
(intrapersonal, interpersonal, inter-group/institutional) that have an effect on the child.
Description
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.
Keywords
Victims of crimes--Abused children., Sexual abuse victims., Theses--Psychology.