Minha filha: proteção materna em face ao abuso sexual infantil intrafamiliar

Abstract

The issue of child sexual abuse is a recent object of study in the many fields of knowledge. Science development, along with the Rights of the Child movement, furthered a new outlook on childhood and its protection. Researches on the subject suggest sexual abuse within the family has been occurring more frequently. Considering that the main perpetrators are male, a reflection on the mother figure is incumbent. The objective of this dissertation is to analyze maternal protection in the face of intrafamilial child sexual abuse. This work has been divided in two qualitative articles, whereby one is particularly theoretical, and the other, more empirical. The former analyzes motherhood when confronted with cases of child sexual abuse within the family, through literature and legislative reviews. It ponders current concepts involving motherhood and their ascription to care and protection of offspring, especially amidst adversity, such as sexual abuse. The latter examined motherly protection when girls were sexually abused within the family. As its design the study of a unique case that occurred at the Child and Adolescent Defense Center was employed. Through immersion in the typical case, it is understood that the maternal response may be decisive to punish aggressors and put an end to violence. This study highlights the need for public programs aimed at mothers and at providing financial and psychological assistance that will encourage the pressing of charges and the exercise of protection. This dissertation accomplishes what it sets out to do, and calls for further studies on daughter protection by her mother in the event of sexual abuse within the family.