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Kate Price, a researcher and survivor of childhood sexual abuse, reveals in her book the painful memories of being raped by her father as a child. She writes about the sexual abuse and exploitation she endured, how her father drugged her at night, and even sold her to other men — experiences that remained hidden for years due to silence, repression, and the negligence of the justice system. What happened to her is a shocking example of the intersection between domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and the silence of protective institutions.

✍|by Ms.Fatemeh Qasemi

Global Data Paints a Disturbing Picture

Looking at international data, alarming numbers emerge. Nearly one-third of child sexual abuse cases worldwide are committed by close relatives, including fathers and stepfathers. In France, around 160,000 children fall victim to sexual violence every year, with 80% of these cases happening inside the family. In the United States, about 80% of girls assaulted before the age of 18 are abused by a parent or close relative. These figures show clearly that incestuous abuse, although often hidden, is in fact a widespread and deeply rooted crisis.

High Numbers in Countries That Claim to Defend Women’s Rights

It is striking that child sexual abuse rates are so high in countries that claim to uphold women’s rights and individual freedoms. One might expect feminist theory and activism to play a preventive role in reducing this crisis, yet the statistics and field reports tell another story. In practice, feminist movements, despite strong claims of supporting victims of sexual violence, have not been able to stop the spread or intensification of sexual assaults. Serious criticisms remain regarding their effectiveness in prevention and policymaking.

Many mainstream feminists in the West insist that women and girls must live “freely” and that society is responsible for ensuring their safety. From this perspective, advice such as avoiding alcohol, being cautious in relationships, or considering how one dresses is dismissed as limiting freedom. The result is that individual and family-based preventive measures are rarely promoted or taught. In reality, this view places the entire responsibility for safety on legal and social structures, while experience shows that prevention also requires awareness, family care, and reforming risky parental and social behaviors through healthier approaches to sexuality in family and society.

The Question of Sexual Boundaries

Improving sexual lifestyles includes recommendations such as establishing sexual boundaries within families, regulating relations between men and women in both society and family, and closer parental supervision to prevent situations that enable abuse. Unfortunately, in Western culture these are often dismissed as a return to tradition or an attempt to restrict personal freedom, especially for women and girls. Liberal feminists fear that accepting such measures would mean a regression to patriarchal patterns where girls are made responsible for protecting themselves and society bound by “traditional” beliefs.

Another principle of anti-violence movements is that “no victim should ever be blamed for what happened to them.” This is correct and must be respected in handling sexual abuse cases, especially involving children. Yet, the unintended effect is that any discussion about “risk reduction” or “practical caution” is overshadowed by the fear of victim-blaming. As a result, helpful discussions — for example, on sexual education at home, dress, or maintaining boundaries even among close family members — are immediately rejected and attacked.

Beyond Hashtags: The Limits of Exposure Movements

In short, Kate Price’s testimony shows that exposé-driven movements like #MeToo, while drawing public attention and media buzz, have not provided structural solutions. Instead, they often create endless cycles of exposure without establishing lasting mechanisms to change victims’ conditions or prevent sexual violence. By focusing excessively on individual freedom and showing resistance to practical prevention, family reform, boundaries, and educational tools, they have sidelined measures that could reduce harm. Experience suggests these factors are crucial in prevention — and until this gap is addressed, victims will remain defenseless in harmful family environments, while perpetrators continue their crimes in the shadows.

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