The Guilford Press Description: This 244-page edited book consists of 15 chapters, written mainly by
psychologists and counselors in England. Other authors include a social
worker, a criminologist, and a nurse. Chapters cover topics such as
treatment issues, therapy and the female abuser, self-help groups, men as
survivors, and "what survivors tell us." Discussion: This book of readings succeeds in making its main point — that females can be sexual abusers of children and that professionals must recognize this. It is replete with horror stories of female therapists who rejected male patients and it explores how helping professionals and research concerning sexual abuse display "a frightening lack of awareness" about the female as the aggressor. The book laments the poor quality of research data on this problem. But although the book makes its main point, it is apologetic about the lack of concern shown towards male victims. The chapter on self-help groups lacks research about the effectiveness of the self-help movement. Issues such as substance abuse, sibling abuse, concepts of age and gender, and female violence and coercion are not adequately explored. The last chapter on relevant literature should be buttressed with more research from the United States. The book is recommended with the above caveats. Reviewed by LeRoy G. Schultz, Emeritus Professor of Social Work, West Virginia University.
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