“Mummy wouldn’t do that”: The Perception and Construction of the Female Child Sex Abuser

Women are viewed, rightly or wrongly, as carers and nurturers, trusted with the well-being of children in all areas of their development. The female child sexual molester does not and cannot exist, according to this view of women. Boys who are sexually abused by women are told they are being initiated into sexuality and congratulated on their accomplishment. Why is such perception persistent in the face of information to the contrary? This research uses a social constructivist approach to examining perceptions of female sexual abusers, to try to determine the answer to why we think mummy (or auntie, or teacher…) wouldn’t do that.