Hungry Like a Wolf is the name of a play about sexual predators I saw in Minneapolis recently. The author, Sandra Struthers, powerfully portrays the commonality and impact of sexual harassment and rape that women live with. The subject is uncomfortable and usually avoided or talked about in euphemistic language. If its not talked about its not a problem. If its not a problem, there is no perceived need for a solution.
Sandra’s play represents children in my caseload over 12 years as a CASA guardian ad litem. One two year old, three four year old’s and 20 other children, most under ten, were assaulted in their birth homes by parents and other caregivers. Two of the four year old’s lived with regular rape until they were seven when they were removed from the home and placed in foster care.
I worked with both four year old’s (from different families) for over ten years each and came to know how their abuse impacts every aspect of the rest of their life. In my world view, child rape destroys the person. A child has no capacity to understand the violence being done to them or the ability to stop it from happening. At a point, their brain breaks. Without an end to the suffering and more healing and skill building from the community than any of my caseload children received, their chances of living a happy productive life are (3 min video) greatly diminished.
None of the perpetrators were ever punished. In one of those homes, the same perpetrator molested child after child over those ten years. 7.8 million children are reported abused in the U.S. each year – many of them have been sexually abused.
Child abuse is invisible. It is likely that at 7.8 million more children are abused than are reported.
It’s up to adults to start this conversation or it can’t be seen as a problem and there will be no need for a solution.
When enough of us become informed and speak up for abused and neglected children,
their lives and our communities will improve!
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This article submitted by former CASA volunteer Mike Tikkanen
child sexual abuse
child rape
ACEs
CASA
guardian ad litem
childhood trauma
foster care
Kids At Risk Action
