Our Data Matters Report

Childhood Sexual Trauma/Abuse

What is childhood sexual abuse?

Child sexual abuse is defined as: “any interaction between a child and an adult (or another child) in which the child is used for the sexual stimulation of the perpetrator or an observer. Sexual abuse can include both touching and non-touching behaviors. Non-touching behaviors can include voyeurism (trying to look at a child’s naked body), exhibitionism, or exposing the child to pornography. Children of all ages, races, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds may experience sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse affects both girls and boys in all kinds of neighborhoods and communities.”
Some of us have few if any memories of our childhood making it difficult to give definitive yes or no answers. This survey takes that into consideration by offering I don’t remember (I think so/I don’t think so responses). The goal is to capture the most accurate data possible.
The following questions ask the respondent to identify if they have experienced certain forms of sexual molestation and/or abuse as an child, which is considered (in most cases) to be under the age of eighteen.

Inappropriate sexual touching/molestation (All respondents)

*the following represents the percentage of the specified groups that responded YES

  • 28 % of participants AMAB
  • 59% of participants AFAB
  • 56% of Cis-Female participants
  • 28% of Cis-Male participants
  • 80% of Nonbinary participants
  • 100% of Genderfluid participants
  • 67% of LGBTQIA+ participants
*5 additional participants (two cis-men and three cis-women) responded “they think so” but do not remember while another 6 responded “they did not think so” but do not remember (3 cis-women, 1 nonbinary person, 2 cis-men).

Inappropriate sexual touching/molestation by a relative (All respondents)

Of those who said yes to the above question, 77% responded that the offender was a relative and another 7% responded that they thought so but didn’t remember.

The following graph depicts the identified relatives.

*33% of those who said yes identified more than one relative as a perpetrator.

Attempted and/or completed childhood sexual abuse (All respondents)

*the following represents the percentage of the specified groups that responded YES

  • 6 % of participants AMAB
  • 44% of participants AFAB
  • 43% of Cis-Female participants
  • 6% of Cis-Male participants
  • 60% of Nonbinary participants
  • 50% of Genderfluid participants
  • 43% of LGBTQIA+ participants
*five additional participants (one cis-man, two cis-women, one non-binary person, and one gender fluid person) responded “they think so” but do not remember while another four responded “they did not think so” but do not remember (all cis-women).

Attempted and/or completed childhood sexual abuse by a relative (All respondents)

Of those who said yes to the above question, 69% responded that the offender was a relative and another 7% responded that they thought so but didn’t remember.

The following graph depicts the identified relatives.

*26 % of those who said yes identified more than one relative as a perpetrator.

The following questions are specifically for those with a penis

Attempted force penetration of another

Of those to whom this question applied 17% responded yes. All who responded yes identified as cis-het men.

Attempted force penetration of another by a relative

Of those who said yes to the above question, 66% responded that the offender was a relative and another 33% responded that they didn’t think so but didn’t remember.

*For all those who said yes, the relative was a same sex sibling.

Forced penetration of another (completed)

Of those to whom this question applied 11% responded yes. All who responded yes identified as cis-het men.

Forced penetration of another (completed) by a relative

Of those who said yes to the above question, 50% responded that the offender was a relative.

*For all those who said yes, the relative was a cousin.

Sibling Sexual Abuse

Sibling sexual abuse is very common and also underreported mainly because it is not well defined. It goes beyond curiosity and can cause physical, emotional, and sexual harm.  One (or more) sibling(s) may use power and/or manipulation to get the other sibling or siblings to participate.
Some define sibling sexual abuse as inappropriate sexual behaviors occurring between children who’ve been raised together. Sexual behaviors that are considered not age appropriate (watching porn, using sexual language,  touching another persons genitals with body parts or objects, engaging in sexual acts such as oral or penetrative sex).
*graph depicts the responses of all participants, additional data reflects the demographics.

Inappropriate sexual touching by a sibling

*the following percentage data reflects the demographic makeup of those that responded YES to the question

  • 69% Cis-Female
  • 19% Cis-Male
  • 6% Nonbinary
  • 6% Genderfluid
  • 6% LGBTQIA+ (94% hetero)

Attempted oral sex by sibling

*the following percentage data reflects the demographic makeup of those that responded YES to the question

  • 72% Cis-Female
  • 14% Cis-Male
  • 14% of Nonbinary
  • 14% of LGBTQIA+ (86% hetero)
*Out of those that responded yes, 29% reported that they gave, 29% received, and 43% experienced both

Attempted penetration by sibling

*the following percentage data reflects the demographic makeup of those that responded YES to the question

  • 74% Cis-Female
  • 13% Cis-Male
  • 13% Nonbinary
  • 13% of LGBTQIA+ (87% hetero)

Penetration by sibling (completed)

*the following percentage data reflects the demographic makeup of those that responded YES to the question

  • 72% Cis-Female
  • 14% Cis-Male
  • 14% Nonbinary
  • 14% of LGBTQIA+ (86% hetero)

Coercive inappropriate sexual behavior by sibling

*the following percentage data reflects the demographic makeup of those that responded YES to the question

  • 64% Cis-Female
  • 24% Cis-Male
  • 6% Nonbinary
  • 6% Genderfluid
  • 6% of LGBTQIA+ (94% hetero)

Other childhood sexual abuse

Not all childhood sexual abuse is committed by an adult (or someone 5 years older) or a sibling, sometimes it is done by a child the same age, such as a cousin, neighbor, or the child of an adult family friend. The following questions address that.
*graph depicts the responses of all participants, additional data reflects the demographics.

Inappropriate touch by another child

*the following represents the percentage of the specified groups that responded YES

  • 10 % of participants AMAB
  • 90% of participants AFAB
  • 78% of Cis-Female participants
  • 22% of Cis-Male participants
  • 10% of Nonbinary participants
  • 3% of Genderfluid participants
  • 31% of LGBTQIA+ participants
*31% of the participants identified more than one person

Attempted oral sex by another child

*the following represents the percentage of the specified groups that responded YES

  • 12 % of participants AMAB
  • 88% of participants AFAB
  • 65% of Cis-Female participants
  • 12% of Cis-Male participants
  • 24% of Nonbinary participants
  • 47% of LGBTQIA+ participants
*Out of those that responded yes, 35% reported that they gave, 35% received, 18% experienced both, and 12% did not remember
*14% of the participants identified more than one person

Attempted penetration by another child

*the following represents the percentage of the specified groups that responded YES

  • 6 % of participants AMAB
  • 94% of participants AFAB
  • 83% of Cis-Female participants
  • 6% of Cis-Male participants
  • 11% of Nonbinary participants
  • 28% of LGBTQIA+ participants
*22% of the participants identified more than one person

Penetration by another child (completed)

*the following represents the percentage of the specified groups that responded YES

  • 8 % of participants AMAB
  • 92% of participants AFAB
  • 77% of Cis-Female participants
  • 8% of Cis-Male participants
  • 15% of Nonbinary participants
  • 23% of LGBTQIA+ participants
*23% of the participants identified more than one person

Inappropriate sexual conduct prompted by another child

*the following represents the percentage of the specified groups that responded YES

  • 21 % of participants AMAB
  • 79% of participants AFAB
  • 67% of Cis-Female participants
  • 21% of Cis-Male participants
  • 12% of Nonbinary participants
  • 30% of LGBTQIA+ participants
*30% of the participants identified more than one person

The following questions are specifically for those with a penis

Attempted force penetration of another (instigated by another child).

Of those to whom this question applied 11% responded yes. All who responded yes identified as cis-het men.

Of those who said yes, 50% identified the perpetrator as a cousin, the remaining 50% identified the perpetrator as a neighborhood “friend”

Completed force penetration of another (instigated by another child).

Of those to whom this question applied 11% responded yes. All who responded yes identified as cis-het men.

Of those who said yes, 50% identified the perpetrator as a cousin, the remaining 50% identified the perpetrator as a neighborhood “friend”

Age ranges participants reported experiencing childhood sexual abuse

*Of those who responded 31% indicated being abused across multiple age ranges
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