Expert: Lucille Zimmerman - 6/21/2009

Question
  I am not sure if I was molested by my grandfather or if he was just trying to
help me. I was 13 years old when it happened and it only happened once. I
was at the age where I was learning how to masturbate and quite often
masturbated before I went to sleep.  I was in my grandparents fifth wheel
camper and I had the urge to masturbate. I was in a hallway bed and my
grandfather got up to use the bathroom and saw me masturbating. I quickly
acted like I was sleeping. My grandfather came out of the bathroom and went
to check on my sister I guess in another bed. A few minutes later he came by
me. I was turned on my side away from him pretending I was sleeping when
he reached his hand into my pajamas and grabbed my penis. I was scared
and acted like I was waking up hoping he would leave. But then he whispered
in my ear that it was perfectly normal to masturbate if I wanted to and began  
stoking me until I ejaculated. Then he removed his hand and kissed me
goodnight and went to bed.  It never happened again. I think about this all
the time and wonder if I was molested.

Answer
Yes, I would consider that molestation.  I consider it abuse when someone uses another for their own sexual gratification. There is a big difference between a person touching their own body and another touching your body.  You did not consent to that. Yes, I think that was abuse.