This chapter examines the details relating to the unwanted non-contact sexual violence experienced as a child. This covers experiences which occurred under the age of consent in Ireland (under 17 years) and is based on replies from those aged 18 and over.
Unwanted non-contact sexual violence experiences include being shown pornographic material, being asked to pose in a sexually suggestive manner for photographs, having someone expose themselves or someone masturbating in front of them when they were a child. These experiences are not described as “non-consensual” as these individuals were under the age of consent at the time, hence the use of the term “unwanted”. See the Background Notes for further details.
Please note that this chapter looks at child sexual violence experienced in the past by adults currently in Ireland – it does not provide insights on current levels of child sexual violence. It does not cover experiences between children which include any sexual experiences that they were comfortable with, for example, with a boyfriend or girlfriend who was a similar age to them at the time.
The demographic breakdowns provided are based on the information given by the respondent when the survey was collected, and so may not necessarily accord with their demographic profile when the sexual violence took place (for example, they may have had a lower educational level when the sexual violence occurred but have a higher educational level now when engaging with the survey).
Overall, in terms of those who experienced non-contact sexual violence as a child, younger people reported higher levels of sexual violence, as a third of those aged 18-24 (33%) experienced non-contact sexual violence as a child compared with 14% of those aged 65 and over. Women reported experiencing non-contact sexual violence as a child at a higher rate (25%) than men (16%). Looking at the types of non-contact experiences, women were most likely to have experienced this form of sexual violence except for one type - in the case of being shown pornographic material as a child when they did not want to see it, men were more likely to have experienced it (10%) than women (7%).
31%
of bisexual people
were made to look at unwanted pornographic material when they were a child
Source: CSO Ireland, Sexual Violence Survey 2022 – Childhood Experiences
Key findings for childhood experience of non-contact sexual violence by sociodemographic variables:
- A third of those aged 18-24 (33%) experienced non-contact sexual violence as a child. This was the highest rate across all age groups, for example, the equivalent rate for those aged 65 and over was 14%. See Table 4.1.
- Women reported experiencing non-contact sexual violence as a child at a higher rate (25%) than men (16%).
- People with a third level education reported experiencing non-contact sexual violence as a child at over twice the rate (23%) than those with a primary level of education or below (10%). See Figure 4.1.
- Adults with a disability reported experiencing non-contact sexual violence as a child (26%) at a higher level than those without a disability (18%).
- Those who were students were more likely to have reported experiencing non-contact sexual violence as a child (36%) compared with those who were employed (21%) or those retired (13%).
- Those who were single reported experiencing non-contact sexual violence as a child (25%) at a higher level compared with those who were married (18%) or those widowed (12%).
- Those who were “White - Irish Traveller/Roma/other white background” reported experiencing non-contact sexual violence as a child (24%) at a higher rate than those who were “Asian or Asian Irish” (16%).
- Bisexual people reported over double the level (49%) of non-contact sexual violence as a child compared with heterosexual/straight people (20%). The equivalent rate for gay/lesbian people was 31%.
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| X-axis label | Highest level of education attained |
| Primary or below | 10 |
|---|
| Lower secondary | 14 |
|---|
| Higher secondary | 22 |
|---|
| Post leaving certificate | 21 |
|---|
| Third level | 23 |
|---|
Table 4.1 Childhood experience of unwanted non-contact sexual violence by sociodemographic variables, 2022
Key findings for childhood experience of non-contact sexual violence by type of experience:
- One in 10 men (10%) were shown pornographic material as a child when they did not want to see it. This was higher than the rate for women which was 7%. See Figure 4.2 and Table 4.2. This was the only type of non-contact sexual violence experience as a child reported by more men than women. This data on being shown pornographic material as a child when they did not want to see it was collected by asking respondents to think of unwanted experiences where someone asked, persuaded or made the respondent look at pornographic material, for example, pictures, magazines, videos or online content.
- Those aged 18-24 were more likely to be shown pornographic material as a child (22%) than those aged 65 and over (2%). This type of non-contact sexual violence experience was reported most frequently by those aged 18-24. This was a different pattern than that shown by those aged 65 and over who reported that physical exposure by somebody was the most frequent non-contact experience at 11%.
- Those who were single experienced being shown pornographic material as a child (14%) at a higher level compared with those who were widowed (3%).
- Bisexual people were over three times more likely to be shown pornographic material as a child (31%) compared with heterosexual/straight people (8%). The equivalent rate for gay/lesbian people was 19%.
- One in 10 (10%) of those aged 18-24 were made to undress or pose for photos/videos compared with 1% for those aged 65 and over. This data was collected by asking respondents to think of unwanted experiences where someone asked, persuaded, made or paid the respondent to undress or pose in a sexually suggestive way for photographs or videos.
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| X-axis label | Male | Female |
| Showed pornagraphic material | 10 | 7 |
|---|
| Undress or pose for photos or videos | 1 | 3 |
|---|
| Physical exposure by somebody | 6 | 20 |
|---|
| Somebody masturbated in front of them | 6 | 10 |
|---|
Table 4.2 Childhood experience of unwanted non-contact sexual violence by type of experience, 2022
- Women were over three times more likely to have someone physically expose themselves to them when they were a child (20%) than men (6%).
- Those aged 18-24 reported experiencing someone physically exposing themselves to them when they were a child (18%) at a higher rate than those aged 65 and over (11%).
- Those with a third level education experienced someone physically exposing themselves to them when they were a child (15%) at a higher level than those with a primary or below level of education (8%).
- Students and those who were unable to work due to long-standing health problems experienced a higher rate of someone physically exposing themselves to them when they were a child (19%) than those who were employed (13%).
- Persons with disabilities experienced someone physically exposing themselves to them when they were a child (18%) at a higher level than those who did not have a disability (11%).
- Overall, bisexual people were over twice as likely to have experienced someone physically exposing themselves to them when they were a child (29%) than heterosexual/straight people (13%).
- Nationally, 8% of adults have experienced someone masturbating in front of them when they were a child. One in 10 (10%) of those aged 18-24 have experienced this, twice the rate reported by those aged 65 and over (4%).
- Those with a higher secondary education were more likely to have experienced someone masturbating in front of them when they were a child (9%) than those with a primary or below level of education (2%).
- Those who were unable to work due to long-standing health problems reported experiencing someone masturbating in front of them when they were a child (16%) at a higher level than those who were employed (8%).
- Over one in five (22%) bisexual people experienced someone masturbating in front of them when they were a child. This compared with 19% for gay/lesbian people and 7% for heterosexual/straight people.
