title: Child sexual abuse: An undermining of the polis.
abstract: This paper explores the sexual abuse literature and the political participation literature for possible linkages. Research on political participation indicates low levels of political trust and damaged self-esteem have important impacts on style and level of political involvement. The literature on child sexual abuse indicates potential root causes for lowered trust and self-esteem which have implications for adult participation in the civic arena. Sexual abuse has negative effects on individual victims and also undermines the foundations of democratic societies.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Political Science, St. Mary's University, One Camino Santa Maria, 78228, San Antonio, TX.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hoffman