What is Child Molestation?

What is child molestation? The following are two examples that show how complicated this issue is, and how child sexual abuse isn't just about rape or even requires physical molestation.

Shira was eleven years old when her father would stay home in the afternoons because her mother took a new job that required working long hours. Her father started drinking beer in the early afternoon, and he began to make uncomfortable rules in the house. She was told that she wasn't allowed to lock the bathroom door anymore. Then her father would "accidentally" come in and look at her when she was using the toilet or taking a shower. Also, her father would walk through the house without any clothes on, supposedly on his way to take a shower. He would stare at Shira and make comments about her already needing a bra. He finally crossed the line in a very clear way when he insisted on washing her back in the shower. 

At age 13, Motty's 20 year old brother Shmuel took him to the zoo. Shmuel insisted that they stay at the elephant's exhibit to watch the elephants. It was very upsetting to Motty because the elephants were mating and he didn't understand what they were doing. He thought they were stuck together and hurting each other. So, in a crude and ugly manner, Shmuel taught sex education to a very shocked youngster.Another time, Shmuel took Motty to an art museum, insisting they spend most of their time looking at the nude portraits and sculptures. Shmuel would make comments about Motty's private parts, implying that he was sexually aroused. One day Shmuel took Motty on a hike and convinced the boy to take off all his clothes in order to splash in the stream, and then Motty saw that Shmuel was video taping him..


Many adults think that child molestation must include physical touching of private parts, but the experts define child sexual abuse (or child molestation, which are terms used interchangeably), as any experience of a sexual nature that is imposed upon a child.