Sexual Abuse in Sports: Why do Youngsters get Trapped? (Two Cases from Russia across 20^th and 21^st centuries)

 

Anastasia Atabekova¹*, Maria Simonova²

¹Full Prof., Dr. Sc., Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia- RUDN University, aaatabekova@gmail.com

²Full Prof., Dr. Sc., Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia- RUDN University

*Corresponding author

 

Abstract

The paper uses field data from the Russian Federation to explore reasons that make minors engage in sexual relations with their coaches. The research started with desk analysis to incorporate publications on abused athletes’ perceptions of the coach-athlete relationship.

The research methodology used case study techniques. The research material included narratives of some sexual abuse victims of sports, the stories were the main source of the present study. Totally 25 stories have become subject of the research analysis. The paper sets forth two stories of Russian female sport persons as an example of those situations that turned out to be typical for the situation in Russian sport.

The cases stand in line with previous research data from international sources and enhance the existing information on the topic, shed new light on the specificity of the phenomenon under study regarding controversial perceptions of both young athletes  and their parents, as well.

Keywords: sexual abuse in sports, victims’ perceptions, parents’ behavior.