I've read often and talked with professionals in this field who tell me 99% of this kind of abuse comes from close family members and it's 'all a secret even when someone finds out because nobody wants shame or jail time in their family' which strikes me as protecting everyone except the one person who needs and deserves it most. Case in…
I've read often and talked with professionals in this field who tell me 99% of this kind of abuse comes from close family members and it's 'all a secret even when someone finds out because nobody wants shame or jail time in their family' which strikes me as protecting everyone except the one person who needs and deserves it most. Case in point, I was chatting with a neighbour recently - she was walking her dog about 9PM recently and balked at coming out the door of our building; she saw me approaching wearing a dark toque and couldn't see my face as someone friendly she knows. She stayed safe inside until I entered with my key and took off my headwear. She was trembling. I don't know her very well - we say hello in passing, but that night she opened up about having been molested at age six by a family member who swore her to secrecy or he would kill her. She's rarely told anyone, and has tremendous anxiety about this she's carried all her life. And you might be surprised at her age. 91 ... I'm so glad she shared that with me. We had a pleasant chat that night. That conversation was far more powerful for me to 'understand the issue' than anything I'd heard before.
I've read often and talked with professionals in this field who tell me 99% of this kind of abuse comes from close family members and it's 'all a secret even when someone finds out because nobody wants shame or jail time in their family' which strikes me as protecting everyone except the one person who needs and deserves it most. Case in point, I was chatting with a neighbour recently - she was walking her dog about 9PM recently and balked at coming out the door of our building; she saw me approaching wearing a dark toque and couldn't see my face as someone friendly she knows. She stayed safe inside until I entered with my key and took off my headwear. She was trembling. I don't know her very well - we say hello in passing, but that night she opened up about having been molested at age six by a family member who swore her to secrecy or he would kill her. She's rarely told anyone, and has tremendous anxiety about this she's carried all her life. And you might be surprised at her age. 91 ... I'm so glad she shared that with me. We had a pleasant chat that night. That conversation was far more powerful for me to 'understand the issue' than anything I'd heard before.
Keep up the great writing Caro!