Child Sexual Abuse Among Socially Marginalized Groups: Cultural and Governmental Influences Perpetuating Maltreatment in American Indian Country (Report‪)‬

Introduction Children living on the cultural margins of society are more likely to experience negative life outcomes, for two reasons: first, their disempowered position exposes them to greater social risks and limits their ability to protect themselves. Second, agencies and institutions intended to protect children from harm are less effective in resolving cases in which they are involved, compared to children from more privileged backgrounds. While the dynamics of disadvantage differ among various marginalized subgroups and by the type of harm in question, they are especially evident in child sexual abuse (CSA) cases in Indian Country. (1) Compared the abuse in other environments, CSA in Indian Country provides a striking example of harm resulting from the powerful external pressures exerted by the dominant culture upon a subjugated ethnic group.