Is this incest and or child abuse?

by Daniel
(New Jersey, USA)

I was molested 23 years ago by a stepbrother. I was 10, he was almost 13. He forced me many times over the course of a 2-3 year period to have intercourse with him. Was this abuse, per definition? Was this incest or just molestation because it involved minors?

D.

Reply from Darlene: Daniel, I'm very sorry to learn that you were molested. I hope you are in some form of counselling to help you with the emotional trauma of being abused, as well as deal with feelings of betrayal and abandonment at having parents or caregivers who did nothing to stop it and protect you.

As for your questions, I cannot speak to the laws of where you live regarding what would constitute incestuous sex abuse, but typically, stepsiblings do not fall into the category of incest. However, your stepbrother DID sexually abuse you, and even though he was only 2-3 years older than you at the time, it does constitute child abuse.

Three pages on my website that you may find helpful with regard to your questions are:

• Definition of sexual abuse
  
• Incestuous sex offenders
  
• Adolescent sex offenders