Women's Report of Unwanted Sexual Attention During Childhood

Abstract

ABSTRACT Unwanted Sexual Attention (UWSA) refers to unsolicited verbal comments, gestures, stares, and other non-physical attention toward another's sexuality and physical appearance. The present study describes the occurrence of childhood UWSA and explores its relation to child sexual abuse (CSA). Three hundred fifteen university women (mean age = 19.5) completed the Exposure to Sexual Attention Scale, a 200-item inventory which assesses various forms of UWSA received prior to age 18. Findings suggested that non-contact UWSA is a pervasive experience across settings for girls, with 98.7% reporting UWSA during childhood. Those reported most often to perpetrate UWSA (e.g., other students, adult strangers, child strangers, and other children) were also most often reported as sexual abusers. Emotional reactions by women to both UWSA and CSA were predominantly negative. Although significantly greater levels of fear reactions were reported by the CSA group when compared to the UWSA group. No difference was found between the two groups on levels of anger reactions to UWSA and CSA. Overall findings suggest that UWSA is an almost universal experience for girls that causes significant anger and fear. Assessing UWSA will be important from a public health perspective in evaluating if such behaviors pose a risk factor for negative developmental outcomes for girls.