RESUMO
Objective: The sociocultural context for sexual violence in the Caribbean includes several interconnected factors including gender inequity. The centrality of social norms based on patriarchal ideologies, and gender inequity however continues to be under-recognized and so not addressed in social or health programming or policy. Design and Methodology: As part of a larger action research project conducted in Trinidad and Tobago, service providers from multiple sectors involved in management of victims and potential victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) were surveyed. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 68 service providers from social, health and legal sectors on their understanding of and attitude to CSA; gender sensitivity towards CSA and its victims, and their perceptions of the contextual factors that impact the service provided. Results: Personal attitudes to CSA reflected societal myths; stigmatization; and gender ideologies, norms and stereotypes which impacted both the identification and assessment of victims of sexual abuse, and the related service provision. Service providers also identified legislation that perpetuated gender inequity and compromised the safety of victims of CSA. The majority of service providers received no gender sensitization despite the dominant effect of gender biases on perception and acceptance, and therefore management of CSA. Conclusion: These findings have significant implications for the service delivered to victims of CSA and support the need for a gendered approach to its management.
