What Is Considered Molestation?

When it comes to interpreting various non-consensual sexual acts, some terms can be difficult to define. The term “molestation” is one such term that can have different meanings, depending on the context. Below are some resources that can help you heal from the trauma of molestation and find a path forward.

What Is Molestation?

While the legal definition of the term “molestation” can vary depending on the country or state, culturally, molestation is considered a sexual action perpetrated against a vulnerable person (typically a child) by someone in a position of power. The act of molestation itself can range significantly and does not necessarily need to involve physical contact. The act of exposing private parts to an unconsenting person or showing them pornography can be considered molestation, just as inappropriate touching, fondling, penetration, or even gestures or conversation can.

What Is Considered Child Molestation?

Child molestation is generally defined as a sexual act against a child perpetrated by an adult. A child molester preys on the child’s vulnerabilities to take advantage of that child. They may utilize their difference in size to overpower the child or employ complicated tactics to take advantage of the child or their caretakers.

These individuals may be teachers, counselors, clergy, or a family member. In other situations, they may be a stranger who “befriends” the child, either on social media or in person, to manipulate them to get them alone.

Types of Molestation

Molestation is divided into two categories: contact and non-contact. Contact molestation refers to any type of molestation where physical contact is breached. This may include:

• Fondling
• Groping
• Penetration
• Touching

Non-contact molestation refers to a sexual act where there has been limited or no physical contact but is nonetheless inappropriate and harmful. Non-contact molestation can include:

• Solicitation of sexual acts
• Sexual conversation
• Inappropriate remarks
• Spying on or taking pictures of a child
• Engaging in private inappropriate relationships or conversations with a minor

Both types of molestation are serious and are often difficult to catch because the perpetrator uses manipulation to hide their actions.

What Is the Impact of Molestation on a Survivor?

The effects of molestation can manifest at any time, from soon after the crime is committed to years later. A few of the common ways in which molestation can affect survivors include:

• Emotional Trauma: Molestation often leaves lasting emotional scars, including persistent fear, shame, guilt, and emotional numbness. Survivors may experience flashbacks, and nightmares, and struggle with low self-esteem, making it difficult to process their feelings and regain a sense of safety.
• Psychological Distress: Survivors of molestation frequently develop mental health issues such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and dissociation. Survivors often use substance abuse as a coping mechanism to manage their distress and trauma.
• Physical Health Issues: In the immediate sense, victims of penetrative molestation may experience injury to their genitals. Later in life, survivors may experience chronic pain, fatigue, headaches, and weakened immune systems due to their prolonged stress and trauma.
• Sexual Health Concerns: Sexual health concerns in cases of molestation are the likelihood of STIs or STDs transmitted by the perpetrator, as well as sexual dysfunction that can manifest as sexual promiscuity or a fear of intimacy as an adult. When a child initiates abnormal sexual behavior or communication or expresses a fear of being touched, this can also be an indicator of molestation.
• Difficulties in Relationships: Molestation can manifest as trust issues, fear of vulnerability, and difficulty expressing emotions in a relationship. These can cause significant challenges in forming and maintaining healthy relationships, both as a child and into adulthood.

Recognizing the Signs of Molestation

When a child or teen is molested, this typically manifests with a change in behavior. Emotionally, they may show increased anxiety, depression, sudden mood swings, or even aggression. They may also turn inward and suddenly withdraw or avoid interaction with family.

If there is a particular family member or person they do not want to be around, this may be a sign that the person is an abuser, especially if other signs of molestation are present. In addition to emotional unrest, a child or teen of abuse may also exhibit physical symptoms like difficulty sleeping, nightmares, or bedwetting. In more extreme cases, a victim may develop mental health disorders such as anorexia, chronic washing, or self-harm.

As a survivor of molestation ages, unresolved trauma can develop into PTSD, anxiety, dissociative disorders, or depression. They may also experience trouble relating to others, forming healthy relationships, and developing unhealthy social and sexual patterns.

How Do I Know if I Was Molested as a Child?

If you’ve gone over the information above and you’re still unsure whether you’ve been molested as a child, that’s normal. Many survivors have trouble understanding or even remembering if they were molested, and there is a valid psychological reason behind it: trauma.

Trauma is a biological response to a painful event and can manifest in many ways. It can suppress your memories of the event to protect you from reliving your pain. In other cases, trauma can result in a denial of the event itself or fabricating explanations of why it happened.

If you think you were molested as a child but aren’t sure, the most productive thing you can do for your mental health is talk to a licensed mental health professional (not a “hypnotherapist” or “life coach”). If you’re concerned about the cost, many communities provide resources that can cover part or all of the cost involved in seeking therapy.

How to Heal from Molestation

Confronting a traumatic life event such as molestation can feel like an immense burden, but there are tools you can utilize right now to help you along, even if you’re just getting started. Specialized therapies are available to help survivors process their trauma. Some examples of the types of therapies they offer include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

Standard talk therapy is also an effective tool, especially when working with practitioners who understand childhood sexual trauma. Yoga, meditation, and especially somatic strength training are all beneficial tools to help a survivor regain a sense of control over their bodies and reduce the lingering effects of trauma.

How to Help a Molestation Survivor

Some individuals who have survived molestation may actively want to talk about their feelings and experiences or seek advice, while others may pull away and prefer to be alone while processing their trauma. Regardless of how your loved one may be processing their trauma, the best thing you can do is be there for them, validate and believe their experiences, and offer them a safe and supportive environment in which to share their experiences, should they choose to do so. If they’re open to seeking counseling, offer them help in researching mental health practitioners in your area who particularly specialize in trauma.

If your loved one is seeking justice as part of their healing journey, it may help to also consider speaking with a child sexual abuse attorney. Filing a lawsuit against the individual or organization that contributed to their abuse can help provide financial resources for the loss they’ve experienced as a result of the trauma. If your loved one has reason to believe that the individual who molested them may still be molesting others, consider contacting law enforcement, even if you’re reporting the molestation years later.

What Is Considered Molestation: FAQs

Was I Too Young to Be Molested?

Molestation can happen to victims of any age. Sexual abuse is about power and exploitation and rarely has anything to do with a survivor’s age.

Can Molestation Happen within Families?

Absolutely, and in fact, a perpetrator of abuse is more likely to come from within a survivor’s family rather than from a stranger. One of the many reasons why molestation can go undetected is because sexual abuse is more likely to come from someone who has frequent access to the child and would otherwise be considered a trusted individual, such as a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or even sibling.

How Can I Prevent Molestation?

The best countermeasure against molestation is a combination of education and communication. Teach your child the difference between appropriate and inappropriate interactions with adults. Facilitating open communication can make it easier for them to come forward if something seems off.

You can also prevent molestation by taking preventative measures of your own, such as utilizing background checks for caregivers and keeping close contact with anyone who has direct access to your child.

You Don’t Have to Suffer. StrongerThan.org Can Help

Healing from molestation can take time, but access to therapeutic and legal resources eases the healing process. If you’d like to speak with someone right now, there are 24-hour hotlines available to lend a listening ear, including:

• National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): Offers confidential support, information, and resources through trained staff and a 24/7 chat feature. Phone: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
• Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: Provides crisis intervention, resources, and support for children and adults concerned about child abuse. Phone: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: Assists individuals experiencing sexual assault in domestic settings, offering support, safety planning, and resources. Phone: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

For long-term counseling, you can work with a mental health professional. If you’re struggling to pay for therapy on your own, StrongerThan can help you get access to financial resources to help cover the cost of your counseling. We can also provide legal resources for molestation survivors who want to bring their abusers to justice and gain peace of mind knowing that the risk of them reoffending is lowered. For more information, contact us to learn more.