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El abuso sexual es un enorme problema presente en diversas regiones del Perú. Algunos estudios revelan algunos mitos socialmente aceptados que acentúan y obstaculizan el adecuado abordaje del abuso sexual. Por ello, en este trabajo se explorará la prevalencia de algunos de esos mitos en la población peruana con la intención de dar a conocer el impacto que estos tienen en la sociedad y en la experiencia de las víctimas. Para ello, se realizaron dos estudios complementarios. El primero cuantitativo, el segundo cualitativo. El objetivo del primer estudio fue determinar la aceptación de algunos mitos ligados al abuso sexual en el Perú. Para ello, se validó y aplicó la Escala de Aceptación de los Mitos Modernos sobre la Agresión Sexual en 307 personas de distintas regiones del Perú. Por su parte, el segundo estudio, que se basó en el análisis de 10 relatos de víctimas de abuso sexual, intentó poner en evidencia el impacto de esos mitos en la sociedad y en el tratamiento del abuso.
En el primer estudio se observó que los mitos con mayor impacto se referían a la poca acción política frente al abuso y al peso menor frente a otro tipo de delitos. En ese sentido, parece importante recuperar la importancia de tratar pública y políticamente el abuso sexual.
Además, que se necesita mayor investigación para tomar decisiones adecuadas sobre el abordaje terapéutico del abuso y la aplicación de correctivos sociales apropiados. En cuanto al segundo, se observó que las entrevistas aclaran mejor lo que los mitos expresados en forma sencilla indican. Es decir, que efectivamente las autoridades tienen poca capacidad para abordar el abuso, que hay transferencia de culpa y gran daño en la autocomprensión personal.
Sexual abuse is a problem present in various regions of Peru that affects a significant number of the population. Different studies reveal that there are some socially accepted myths about sexual abuse that accentuated the problem and, in some cases, also hinder its adequate approach. The general objective of the present study is to explore the prevalence of these myths in the Peruvian population in order to know the impact they have in the Peruvian society and, specially, on the experience and self-perception of victims of sexual abuse.
For this purpose, two studies were conducted with complementary perspectives. This perspective made it possible to collect statistical data and contrast them with the narratives of victims of sexual abuse. The objective of the first study was to determine the degree of acceptance of some myths linked to sexual abuse in Peru. For this purpose, the Acceptance Scale of Modern Myths about Sexual Assault (AMMSA) was validated and applied to 307 people from different regions of Peru. The second study aimed to analyze the accounts of ten victims of sexual abuse in order to highlight the impact that these myths have on self-perception and on the way of approaching, integrating and expressing the evil suffered.
This study allowed us to explore some family backgrounds in which general beliefs about abuse are manifested. It also allowed us to open up the response of the family and social environments of the victims and how they were cared for or neglected. This was important to show with concrete cases the impact of these responses on self-understanding and treatment of abuse. That is, given that in most cases there was indifference, disbelief or transference of blame, people had enormous difficulties in dealing with their traumas, seeking psychological help, and publicly denouncing the facts.
Some important conclusions of the first study were contrasted with the second one.
Specially in the case were the first study reveals a contradiction. That is that the educated population already think that even if some attitudes or behaviors could catalyze abuse (as expose or walk for recognized dangerous places) the victims are not guilty, and they deserved not to be blamed for that. In that sense, the second study reveals that the victims hold themselves responsible. First, for the natural pain caused by the wrongdoing and for objective acts that made them vulnerable to abuse. But, more importantly, because of the family and social reprobation that falls on the one who has been abused. In that sense, the myth is already present and the education of population in this aspect could help to prevent and cooperate with the assistance needed by the victims.
Another conclusion of the study showed that the public and political treatment of sexual abuse is needed because the population has the perception of a political inaction facing abuse and a is considered with less importance compared to other types of crimes. In that way, was important to point that more research on the topic is needed to make appropriate decisions on the therapeutic approach to abuse and the application of apposite social correctives. As the second study express with the victims’ words, without the correct atmosphere they are sentenced to silence.
