It was just published in Pediatrics (the journal of the American Pediatric Association), a study aimed at investigating whether there is a relationship between advanced pubertal development and the risk of girls being abused. We had already spoken in Madres Hoy about when puberty comes early, although this AEPaP document, gives us more clues to understand what "early" puberty consists of.
"Early puberty in girls is defined as the appearance of puberty signs between the ages of 8 and 9, and occurs in 10 to 12 percent of girls. According to a longitudinal study carried out by the Terrasa hospital, the age of menarche (if this puberty is not treated) is an average of 11,3 years. On the other hand, between the appearance of the breast button and the menarche, 2,9 years could elapse ». The Pediatrics research has used longitudinal data, including 3870 girls ages 13 to 17 who had had sex.
The hypothesis developed by the team led by Frances R. Chen, is that early / advanced puberty increases the risk of later sexual abuse, especially when in the group that girls go out with, there is a high percentage of boys. A priori, it seems to me that if the chronology of sexual abuse may be influencing an (unmeasured) probability of abuse, we have a serious problem in the way we educate children.
The key is in education.
That is to say: boys should receive a balanced and mature example of the treatment of women by their parents, and can be 'built' by learning that in affective and sexual relationships one must be able to respect others, and oneself. There is a lot of custom to alert girls since they are very young: “be careful who you go with…”, “be careful where you go…”, “be careful what you wear”; and on the other hand, it is not frequent to resort to logic, civility and common sense, telling children: "you don't touch a woman if she doesn't want to."
The study is made with the American population, and although in the interpersonal relationships of young people, there are differences (according to cultures, races, religions, countries of origin, etc.), It is a reality that girls are born free, but from a very young age they are conditioned and victimized.
We hardly realize it, but a tangle of constrictions is woven around them, which places them in a position of inequality. Here is the video "Now or never", with text by Ro de la Torre, and starring the student Alicia Ródenas. Basically is what I think about what happens in terms of abuse of girls by their 'peers' boysWell, that and that we are not capable of transmitting the idea of respect to children.
In other words, it seems good to me that this type of study is done so that we take it into account, but I believe that as a society we must take steps forward in the field of responsibility, coexistence and respect.