Compare like with like
Filicide concerns a narrower kind of killing, whereas this note concerns the much broader child-maltreatment perpetrator category. Feminism and 60.20 The Boy Crisis are relevant debates, but sex-share claims here require the same year, unit of analysis, and abuse definition before being carried into them.
The claim that 68% of child abuse is committed by women is not supported by the most recent national data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
According to the latest Child Maltreatment 2023 report (released in January 2025 by the Children’s Bureau), the actual breakdown of unique perpetrators of child abuse and neglect in the U.S. is:
- Women (Female): 52%1
- Men (Male): 47%2
- Unknown: 1%3
Where Does the “68%” Figure Likely Come From?
While 68% is not the overall figure for child abuse, this specific number often appears in related but distinct child welfare statistics. It is likely a misattribution of one of the following data points:
- Abuse by a Family Member: Some studies indicate that approximately 68% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by a family member (regardless of gender), as opposed to strangers or acquaintances
- Neglect Specific to Mothers: In the subset of neglect cases—which is the most common form of maltreatment—mothers are identified as the perpetrator in a significantly higher proportion than in physical or sexual abuse cases.
- Physical Assault Reports (Male): Interestingly, federal data from the FBI (NIBRS) has previously shown that 68% of physical assaults against children reported to police were committed by men, while CPS (Child Protective Services) data shows a more even split.
- Victimization History: A 2023 study of incarcerated populations found that 68% of male felons reported being victims of child abuse themselves.
Detailed Breakdown by Type of Abuse
The gender of the perpetrator varies drastically depending on the type of maltreatment:
| Type of Abuse | Primary Perpetrator Gender | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Neglect | Female (Mothers) | Accounting for ~75% of all cases, neglect is often linked to the primary caregiver role. |
| Sexual Abuse | Male | Roughly 90-94% of sexual abuse is perpetrated by men/males. |
| Physical Abuse | Split / Slightly Male | CPS data shows a near 50/50 split, but police reports skew heavily male. |
| Fatalities | Split / Parental | Roughly 81.5% of child fatalities involve at least one parent (mother or father). |
Summary for your records:
- Total Maltreatment: Women (52%) vs Men (47%).
- The “68%” Figure: This is likely a confusion with statistics about abuse by family members or a specific sub-category of neglect.