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Culture and Nondisclosure of Child Sexual Abuse in Ghana: A Theoretical and Empirical Exploration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 December 2018

Kofi E. Boakye
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Abstract

The phenomenon of child sexual abuse has been widely acknowledged across many societies, including Ghana. Efforts to address this problem in Ghana have yielded limited success because this type of child abuse is severely underreported. This study explores the relevance of three cultural factors, namely, patriarchal nuances, (child) rape myth acceptance, and a “collective shame problem,” to the understanding of the problem of nondisclosure of child sexual abuse in Ghana. Evidence from an exploratory study provides support for the importance of these factors. The findings are discussed and the need for further research highlighted.

Type
Articles
Information
Law & Social Inquiry , Volume 34 , Issue 4 , Fall 2009 , pp. 951 - 979
Copyright
Copyright © American Bar Foundation, 2009 

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References

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