Women Who Sexually Abuse Children

Hannah Ford

This book begins by considering the societal and professional understanding of sexual abuse by women and why, until recently, such behaviour in women was widely denied and minimised. It also considers why the topic of female sexual offenders remains under-researched, and why many incorrect assumptions and beliefs still surround the subject. The book moves on to discuss what is known about the sexually abusive behavior of women and some of the potentially contributing factors to this behavior. It also discusses the particular effects on victims of being abused by a women. It provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research in this often overlooked area and discusses both adult female offenders and adolescents/younger children who commit sexual offences against children. After an in-depth evaluation of research literature, the author then considers a range of treatment approaches and directions for future research.