Sibling Sexual Abuse
Children are more likely to be sexually abused by their siblings – brothers, sisters, half siblings, step siblings – than by their parents. Yet, society’s awareness of sibling sexual abuse has trailed behind other child abuse issues and concerns. Support services and researchers agree it has received little or no attention and there is a lack of academic literature on the subject.
Today, it remains a hidden, chronically under-estimated and untreated form of child sexual abuse. It continues to be ignored, played down; or denied by parents, professionals, and authorities as harmless or non-threatening childhood sexual experimentation that does not require attention. This is despite the known life-time effects of sexual violence and abuse on the health and happiness of survivors.
Definition of Sibling Sexual Abuse
The National Project on Sibling Sexual Abuse summarises the definition of sibling sexual abuse as: “A form of harmful sexual behaviour or activity involving the misuse of power and victimising intent or outcome between children who self-identity as siblings.”
This could be children living in the same biological family and/or living in the same home. Including and not limited to, half siblings, step siblings, foster/adoptive siblings, or cousins who have a sibling-like relationship.
Sibling Sexual Abuse is referred to by professionals as Harmful Sexual Behaviours (HSB) when the child who has caused harm is under 18 years of age.
Characteristics of Sibling Sexual Abuse
- Goes beyond natural curiosity and age-appropriate sexual development.
- Causes emotional and or physical harm to the children involved.
- One of the children involved was ‘victimised’ by the other.
- Can include both touching and non-touching activity.
- Often involves a power imbalance.
- The child who harmed may be older in age and physically bigger however this is not always the case.
- Harmful sexualised behaviours can be carried out by and involve any gender.
Opening doors: Courageous survivors speak out
You are not alone
If you think you have been impacted by sibling sexual abuse, please know support is available. You do not have to suffer in silence.
’I didn’t tell anyone until I was 32….it’s such a long time to hold such a deep and dark secret’
Sibling sexual abuse survivor
