Public Attitudes Toward Institutional Child Sexual Abuse in Israel: The Case of Malka Leifer

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 107906322110003
Author(s):  
Efrat Lusky-Weisrose ◽  
Amitai Marmor ◽  
Dafna Tener
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
School Principal ◽  
News Websites ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Reader Comments ◽  
Facebook Pages ◽  
Changing Attitudes

This study examined Israeli public perceptions of institutional child sexual abuse (CSA) in the Malka Leifer case. Leifer is a Jewish ultra-Orthodox former Melbourne school principal who is wanted in Australia on CSA charges, after fleeing to Israel. Based on a qualitative analysis of 2,451 reader comments retrieved from four Israeli news websites and six public Facebook pages, the findings indicated diverse attitudes toward the alleged perpetrator, the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, state authorities, and victims. All parties involved were criticized, but less so the victims. Criticisms included sociopolitical and gender stereotypes, and demonic attributions. Positive comments were directed at all involved, even the alleged perpetrator, and especially the victims. The results demonstrate the need to better understand CSA portrayals in cyberspace, as they affect both public and policymaker attitudes, and the importance of fighting prejudicial discourse about the ultra-Orthodox community, especially in light of its changing attitudes regarding CSA.

scholarly journals Perceptions of Intra-Familial Child Sexual Abuse and Intimate Parent-Child Interactions

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-55
Author(s):  
Qian-Wen Xie ◽  
Joshua Miller
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Chinese Society ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Parent Child Interactions ◽  
Comprehensive Information ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Parent Child

The current study aimed to explore Chinese undergraduate students’ perceptions of intimate parent-child interactions (IPCI) and intra-familial Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) as well. 354 undergraduate students from 15 universities or colleges in Beijing were recruited to participate in an online-based survey. Results indicated that IPCI such as co-bathing and co-sleeping were very common among Chinese undergraduate students during childhood. Factors including the child’s age and gender, as well as the parent’s gender involved in IPCI were found to impact respondents’ perceptions of the appropriateness of those interactions. Moreover, respondents’ perceptions of the appropriateness of parent-child intimate interactions might also be influenced by their childhood experiences of parental interactions and their perceptions of intra-familial CSA. The study suggested that distinguishing intra-familial CSA from normative IPCI will continue to be contested and culturally shaped. Comprehensive information and public education about intra-familial CSA are needed for the prevention of CSA in Chinese society.

scholarly journals Facilitators and Barriers to Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Disclosures: A Research Update (2000–2016)

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramona Alaggia ◽  
Delphine Collin-Vézina ◽  
Rusan Lateef
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Discrete Event ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Life Course Perspective ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Therapeutic Services ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Life Course

Identifying and understanding factors that promote or inhibit child sexual abuse (CSA) disclosures has the potential to facilitate earlier disclosures, assist survivors to receive services without delay, and prevent further sexual victimization. Timely access to therapeutic services can mitigate risk to the mental health of survivors of all ages. This review of the research focuses on CSA disclosures with children, youth, and adults across the life course. Using Kiteley and Stogdon’s literature review framework, 33 studies since 2000 were identified and analyzed to extrapolate the most convincing findings to be considered for practice and future research. The centering question asked: What is the state of CSA disclosure research and what can be learned to apply to practice and future research? Using Braun and Clarke’s guidelines for thematic analysis, five themes emerged: (1) Disclosure is an iterative, interactive process rather than a discrete event best done within a relational context; (2) contemporary disclosure models reflect a social–ecological, person-in-environment orientation for understanding the complex interplay of individual, familial, contextual, and cultural factors involved in CSA disclosure; (3) age and gender significantly influence disclosure; (4) there is a lack of a life-course perspective; and (5) barriers to disclosure continue to outweigh facilitators. Although solid strides have been made in understanding CSA disclosures, the current state of knowledge does not fully capture a cohesive picture of disclosure processes and pathways over the life course. More research is needed on environmental, contextual, and cultural factors. Barriers continue to be identified more frequently than facilitators, although dialogical forums are emerging as important facilitators of CSA disclosure. Implications for practice in facilitating CSA disclosures are discussed with recommendations for future research.

scholarly journals Public attitudes toward child sexual abuse in Serbia

Temida ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 61-82
Author(s):  
Nikola Petkovic ◽  
Mirjana Djordjevic ◽  
Vasilije Balos
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Abuse ◽  
Public Opinion ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Developmental Disorders ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
The Public ◽  
Sexual Harrassment

Bringing public attention to the topic of sexual harrassment of children in Serbia during 2010 as well as the series of arrests of persons suspected of ?peadophilia?, encouraged authors to conduct a study which will analyze the public opinion about sexual child abuse. The study is conducted using a sample of 804 people in three comparative categories, laymans, professionals who work with potential victims and sexual abusers, and students of the Belgrade university. Besides assessing how well the persons in question are informed and assessing their concrete knowledge, the authors will evaluate standpoints in five dimensions questioning the perception of the term child, the term abuser and cause often abusing, stands regarding punative measures for sexual delinquents, stands regarding victimization of children with developmental disorders and finally the perception of the child regarding the abuse.

Unwanted sexual experiences during childhood: Australian continuum data

1996 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Patton ◽  
Mary Mannison
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Questionnaire Data ◽  
Sexual Experiences ◽  
Unwanted Sexual Experiences ◽  
Second Year ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Continuum Data

In order to place child sexual abuse in the broader conceptual framework of unwanted sexual experiences in childhood, this study explores a continuum of intrusive behaviours as reported in questionnaire data gathered from 345 first and second year Australian university students. The data provide evidence which is supportive of other findings on the nature and extent of child sexual abuse for females and males, including age of occurrence, identity of perpetrators, most commonly occurring behaviours, and gender differences in disclosure and prevalence.

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