Sexual Assault and Abuse Within Youth Organizations
Child sexual abuse occurs most readily in systems cloaked in secrecy. In addition to the Catholic Church, one of the most prevalent examples of this has played out in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).
The BSA has been one of the largest youth organizations in the U.S. for over a hundred years, serving more than 100 million youth since its inception. The Scouts were built on a foundation of building character and preparing youth for life. Presidents from John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush have touted their scouting credentials as proof of a virtuous grounding. Few organizations were viewed as “wholesome,” as was the BSA. While most of the BSA’s Scoutmasters served as examples of the ‘Scout’s Law,’ some were completely void of it. Turns out the BSA itself was as well.
Boy Scouts History of Sexual Abuse
At its 1972 peak, membership in the Boy Scouts numbered more than 6 million. Boys all across America were excited about the idea of comradery, camping trips, and sleepovers. Scoutmasters, who were unpaid volunteers, were responsible for providing direction, coaching, and support. Above all, they were to be good mentors and positive role models. At least, that is what the BSA claimed.
In 2012, under a court order, the BSA had to make public more than 1,200 files on suspected sexual molesters. The results were shocking. The files the BSA released showed evidence that the BSA was very much aware of decades of abuse taking place against its youth and took steps to hide the evidence away and protect those predatory Scoutmasters. Those documents also showed that various authorities helped to shield Scoutmasters after molesting children. This included police, school administrators, pastors, and politicians.
How the BSA Handled the Public Release
BSA’s documents contained hundreds of reports of Scoutmasters allowing underage boys to drink alcohol or look at pornography. As trust continued to build, Boy Scout leaders would test physical boundaries with boys during activities like skinny dipping, group showers, sleepovers, and one-on-one activities. Then, sexual abuse came.
A foundation principle of the BSA is trust. The BSA invited the trust of millions of parents to place the care of their young boys into its hands. While it invited this trust, it knew of the dangers that Scoutmasters posed. Instead of disclosing the general danger of child molestation and the history of abuse, it concealed it. It then taught the boys to respect and obey scout leaders.
Youth organizations like BSA, 4-H, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters have a heightened duty to protect children from their volunteers. This includes thoroughly screening volunteers with background checks, conducting proper training and supervising, investigating any suspicions or reports of misconduct, and promptly removing unsuitable volunteers from the organization.
Rely on Charles Boyk Law to Be Your Compassionate Advocate
Victims of child sex abuse must endure the resulting severe pain, suffering, and emotional distress from their abuse for the rest of their lives. Men who experienced sexual abuse when they were young may struggle with immense shame and guilt. This can lead to issues with sexuality, intimacy, sexual relations, and substance abuse. Most never come forward and report or discuss it.
In 2020, nearly 100,000 former Boy Scouts filed sexual abuse claims against BSA. Nearly $3 billion was set aside to compensate these victims. While this helps hold BSA accountable, it does not heal these victims or address the thousands of victims who have remained silent about their abuse. More work needs to be done to change the stigmas with male sexual abuse. When you need an advocate on your side, reach out to Charles Boyk Law.
