Some consequences of sexual abuse for your family life
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This article is written for women and assumes a male offender, however SECASA acknowledges that both men and women can be survivors of sexual abuse and that offenders can be male and female.
This information has been reproduced with the kind permission of the Department of Human Services Victoria. Many of the DHS booklets on this site are no longer available in printed format, but all inquiries should be directed to the Protection and Care Publishing Unit, Department of Human Services Melbourne (03) 9616 7013.
The below sections are extracted from the booklet You and Your Child.
Department of Human Services. (2002).
You and your child- for parents of children who have been sexually abused.
Melbourne, Victoria: Community Care Division.
If the sexual offender is your partner and he has left the family following the disclosure of the abuse then perhaps for the first time you are parenting on your own, maybe with a much smaller income or limited financial security. You may be worried about your housing situation. It is likely that the consequences of your child's disclosure are far-reaching.
You will need support and advice to help you through this difficult time. The contacts listed at the back of this booklet can link you to places that offer financial support, housing services and counselling support. For many women, decisions about how to react to the abuse may come down to economic considerations. For example it may be that you need to maintain a relationship with the abuser as you may have joint bank accounts and a house in both of your names. Dealing with the legal and financial implications of this may feel overwhelming, at least for some time.
It is likely that your family life will remain uncertain for some time. You will be experiencing a whole range of feelings and a lot will be required of you. You may have to make decisions about whether you want to continue a relationship with the person who abused your child; whether that person is your partner, husband, brother, father, son or friend of the family.
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Disclaimer
Copyright Updated: 23 Jun 2010
The South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault acknowledges the traditional Aboriginal owners of country throughout Victoria. We pay our respects to them, their culture and their Elders past, present and future.