This newsletter will:
- Describe the different types of sibling violence
- Identify signs that sibling violence may be occurring
- Present factors that increase the risk for sibling violence
- Describe the impacts of sibling violence for children, youth, and adults
- Provide helpful tips to prevent and address sibling violence
SIBLING VIOLENCE IS A COMMON FORM OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, YET IT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED.
Sibling violence is the physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse of one sibling by another. It is not the everyday squabbles, rivalry, or physical playing between siblings. Sibling violence often involves a power imbalance that makes it difficult for the harmed child to protect or defend themselves. Much of sibling violence does not take place in front of parents or other caregivers. When it does occur in front of them, the violence is often minimized due to widely-held beliefs that it helps toughen kids up and prepares them for life. Accordingly, sibling violence is not often recognized as a form of abuse, even by the child being harmed.4Research tells us a different story. Sibling violence is harmful and may have serious short-term and long-term impacts.
WHY?
- When a man hits his partner, we call it intimate partner violence.
- When parents hit their children, we call it child abuse/maltreatment.
- When a child repeatedly ridicules her classmate, we call it bullying.
- Yet, when a sibling hits a brother or sister, we call it “horseplay”.
https://www.vawlearningnetwork.ca/our-work/issuebased_newsletters/issue-21/index.html