The Need to Act: Incest as a Crime Given Low Priority—A View with India as an Example

Peter Choate,Radha Sharan

doi:10.3390/socsci10040142

Peter Choate, Radha Sharan

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci10040142

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Abstract

Background: Incest is a form of sexual activity that occurs within family or kinship systems. It is prohibited by religion and law in most countries as well as by social mores or taboos. Data from various parts of the world indicate, however, that it appears to be a relatively common event, although there is reason to believe that the actual frequency is unknown. Most available data focus upon children as victims, although we note that incest also occurs between adult family members. Methods: A systematic review was performed using PRISMA guidelines. With a focus upon India, the search tools of Academic Search Complete, Google Scholar and PUBMED were used to identify articles that legally defined incest; frequency; barriers to disclosure; the dynamics of incest and social norms. Results: The available data were very limited, making a systematic review unachievable within the narrow confines of incest. Conclusions: The literature is sparse. This led to a discussion of definitional issues; barriers to disclosure; and challenges with measuring the problem of incest and the impact of social norms. Questions of law and efforts at reform were also considered. The article considers what steps might be appropriate.

Highlights

Sciences 10: 142. https://doi.org/Child sexual abuse (CSA) is described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the “involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared, or else that violates the laws of social taboos of society” (World Health Organization WHO, p. vii)
Perhaps the most striking result was that the literature that measures incest is remarkably small when looked at as a problem distinct from child sexual abuse, physical abuse, or other forms of neglect
For example, reports sexual abuse along with physical abuse or sexual abuse that is perpertrated by a variety of people with whom there may or may not have been an incestual relationship

Summary

Introduction

Sciences 10: 142. https://doi.org/Child sexual abuse (CSA) is described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the “involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared, or else that violates the laws of social taboos of society” (World Health Organization WHO, p. vii). Poddar and Mukherjee (2020) describe the range of CSA activities as broad and can include touching, molestation, sodomy, exhibitionism, pornography and cybersexual acts. They note that CSA has long-term adverse effects for victims. Incest is a form of sexual activity that occurs within family or kinship systems. It is prohibited by religion and law in most countries as well as by social mores or taboos. Most available data focus upon children as victims, we note that incest occurs between adult family members

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