The Rape of Girl Child: Socio-psychological Experiences of the Offenders

Child rape is turning into a dire crisis in Bangladesh, with child sexual abuse likely beingthe least reported form of sexual violence. This article investigates the factors motivating perpetrators of child rape and examines their psychological and social experiences. Finally, the article recommends measures to stop child rape. Due to the sensitivity of the subject matter and the unique circumstances of the respondents, the data collection and analysis methods in this study differ from another social research. As the main purpose here is to examine the psychology of rape, we reviewed rape cases and conducted interviews with relatives of both victims and convicted offenders. This approach aims to explore factors linked to the perpetrators' histories of abusive behaviour, drawing on respondents' detailed accounts of psychosocial and sexual experiences from childhood to adulthood. The study reviewed a total of 12 cases from five districts, involving interviews with 20 women and 17 men from 24 families related to these cases. This study finds that, in most cases, the rapists were either relatives or acquaintances of their victims. This suggests that the perpetrators believed it was easier for them to keep the incidents secret or manageable, assuming that the relatives were less likely to file complaints against them. Such psychological motivations drove many individuals toward committing rape. An analysis of case data on rapists reveals that a significant proportion of perpetrators experienced sexual violence in their own childhoods. These individuals often repressed memories of sexual abuse against them, later expressing these repressed impulses toward those who are perceived as less powerful or capable than themselves. Child rape is one manifestation of this dynamic. Data also indicates that rapists frequently target children as a means of asserting power and influence.