“The stats are compelling—30 to 40 percent of the abuse is perpetrated by a family member, and 50 percent is perpetrated by a close family acquaintance. “
Correct...and it would be interesting to see how that breaks down to fathers/mothers vs. stepparents or girlfriends/boyfriends.
Of course - these situations are usually probably considered “family matters.”
“Yet the impact we read here is that men are afraid to reach out and assist children who are strangers.”
yes they are, and the question is...why?
Because the crimes that parents fear most - kidnap, rape & murder - are committed by men.
It isn’t because of the media, and it isn’t because women are bitches.
I do think it is sad that men feel that way.
But my point is that 90 percent of those male perpetrated crimes are committed by family members or close acquaintances. These family members who fear rape or kidnap need to not look at the man who helps their son dry his hands in the Wal Mart rest room or the man who takes their daughter to the lost and found—they need to look within their own circle—at their husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, etc. Because that is where the vast majority of the criminals come from. Yet it is the stranger that is most feared and all men who therefore become suspect.