You may know more about this than me of course, but I was under the impression that rape and sexual abuse are not only extremely traumatic for children, but also affect their development into adulthood.
This is not only because the children are exposed to sexual stimuli inappropriate for their age, but also because children are most likely to be raped by members of their own household, which increases the trauma.
Children who are sexually assaulted are also more likely to enter abusive relationships as adults, and to be diagnosed with an assortment of mental health problems ranging from depression to post traumatic stress disorder to anxiety disorder. None of those things is exactly commensurate with a child's age appropriate development, need for love, or need for play.
Finally, there is definitely some evidence that children affected by war (for example, as child soldiers) are irrevocably changed after the experience and don't behave as, say, children not affected by war do.
I'm interested in knowing about your research that says rape and war don't affect childhood.
Re: just thinking out loud...
This is not only because the children are exposed to sexual stimuli inappropriate for their age, but also because children are most likely to be raped by members of their own household, which increases the trauma.
Children who are sexually assaulted are also more likely to enter abusive relationships as adults, and to be diagnosed with an assortment of mental health problems ranging from depression to post traumatic stress disorder to anxiety disorder. None of those things is exactly commensurate with a child's age appropriate development, need for love, or need for play.
Finally, there is definitely some evidence that children affected by war (for example, as child soldiers) are irrevocably changed after the experience and don't behave as, say, children not affected by war do.
I'm interested in knowing about your research that says rape and war don't affect childhood.