Tracie is hosting this month’s version over at her blog after a Summer long hiatus, and I am happy to see it coming back. Let’s all make an effort to make a contribution and get this thing back rolling along again. You can check all of the details over at her blog.
Found via Holly Smith on Facebook a research study trying to identify the best resources to assist survivors of childhood sexual abuse involving images taken of them. Are you an adult survivor of child sexual abuse that involved sexually explicit images taken of you when you were age 17 or younger? If so, please consider…
If nothing else, I hope you’ll go read the article for two reasons. One, to recognize how difficult it can be to come forward, and have leaders dismiss your claims, so that you know how not to run any organizations that you and your kids are involved with, and two, to recognize how certain cultural values create a space for abusers. Churches rely on charismatic leaders, but without proper safeguards and oversight, you’ll attract some very charismatic evildoers too. Also, understand that environments with such a strong focus on sexual purity, create a culture where kids are desperate to not do the “worst thing” and are susceptible to this kind of grooming, not to mention a lot of shame around a very natural subject. That shame only increases the secrecy around sex, and again creates a place where secrets can thrive. DO NOT BE A PLACE WHERE SECRETS THRIVE!
There’s no real difference. I should know. I was sexually abused by an older minor. There was no creepy old man, only an older and bigger kid who threatened me. Someone in my own family. Mall parking lots, school, and our neighborhood park weren’t the places where I was not safe, my family was.
And I had no way to tell anyone, because I wasn’t taught about that being child abuse. Only strange men in white vans giving out candy abused children. Whatever was happening in my family wasn’t to be discussed with anyone. It wasn’t, and it went on for years.
Maybe we should do better with understanding the ways kids abuse other kids, and talking openly about it. The link below can help.
The trial involving the adoptive parents accused of murdering one twin and attempting to murder the other one year ago heard the recorded testimony from the surviving twin on Tuesday 7th Febrary in court in Florida. The murder followed just over seven years of abuse detailed by the Daily Mail in their report here and…
“The vast majority of young women in contact with the criminal justice system have experienced significant trauma and disadvantage. This can be a key driver for their offending, whether that is being coerced into crime by a partner, sexually exploited or using drugs or alcohol to cope with what they have experienced.
In spite of that, when they then come into contact with the criminal justice system, too often the response does more harm than good or is retraumatising, such as the use of force, restraint or isolation.”
Germanwings coverage is a kick in the teeth for mental health sufferers tags: CA Depression 5 Ways to Love Your Depressed Friend tags: Depression CA Why I am not brave to talk about depression tags: CA Depression Developing Hope in PTSD Recovery tags: CA ChildAbuse 6 Reasons Why Sexual Predators Target Churches tags: CA ChildAbuse…
