Violence is perpetuated through the silencing of the victim; when the perpetrator is the older sibling and society has constructed a belief that the behavior is normative, the victim becomes invisible. As a result of their vulnerable position in society children are especially susceptible to multiple forms of violence, including sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse is forced or coerced sexual behavior that is imposed on a child where there is a substantial age difference between the perpetrator and the victim, and the victim is defined as being unable to give informed consent, by way of virtue, ability or understanding. The median legal age for consent is 16 years of age. In the eyes of society, including the judicial system, perpetrators of child sexual abuse cases are typically adults. Overtime the knowledge surrounding child sexual abuse has evolved, and for nearly three decades, research has continued to show that the hegemonic ideologies surrounding child sexual abuse are no longer valid. Studies of the lifetime prevalence of child sexual assault indicate that one in four girls and one in twenty boys will be abused by a juvenile. This paper provides a critical theoretical analysis of prior research surrounding sibling sexual abuse, while examining the hegemonic ideologies projected by popular culture and the bureaucratic responses to this form of abuse. Specifically, how have these intersecting themes influenced the conceptualization and construction of sibling sexual abuse? This research also addresses the question: what factors explain the theoretical and practical trivialization of this form of abuse?
