“I read about it in that book”–towards a child safe approach to literature

Abstract

A reluctance to speak about child sexual abuse that occurs in domestic settings complicates the dissemination of accurate prevention information to families. Fiction can provide context that assists to translate evidence-based prevention strategies in everyday ways, but to do so safely necessitates careful consideration of ethics. Five modern works of fiction were analysed to determine how intrafamilial child sexual abuse was elucidated and how the novels aligned with empirical findings. The results are considered with respect to developing a child safe approach to literature–a framework for critiquing literature that prioritises children's rights to safety over authorial rights to creative expression. Consideration is also given to how child welfare organisations, practitioners, policy makers and researchers might harness a child safe approach to fiction to disseminate accurate prevention information. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT: This review of modern works of fiction about intrafamilial child sexual abuse considers how the abuse is represented by contemporary authors. Reviewing fiction through a child safe lens permits critical examination of the myths reinforced or dispelled by the work. Adopting a child safe approach to fiction potentially affords practitioners, researchers, agencies and advocates an avenue to disseminate accurate prevention information that can reach individuals in everyday settings.