The author reviews the emergence of child abuse and child sexual abuse as a relatively recent object of social inquiry and regulation within the context of childhood sexuality, which has historically been extensively regulated by professionals. The discussion explores the rise of child sexual vulnerability on the public agenda and tracks the role and influence of specialized professional knowledge in the stimulation and guidance of legislative reform. The author concludes that court decisions and legislative reforms of recent years reduce the authority of parents while increasing the authority of helping professionals. He argues that this trend reduces parental authority within the family while expanding the influence and authority of state- supported professionals through state-sanctioned and state- compensated activity that intervenes in the lives of children and their families. The author argues for a more democratic law reform process that provides for the direct input of adolescents and their families. 250 references and a subject index