sunshinehighway
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2010
Interestingly you just outlined the very same dynamic that causes families most often to close ranks against a member of the family accusing another member of the family of sexual abuse or molestation.
Seeing what it takes for a rape victim to proceed with a criminal case against an attacker, I am astounded we see cases prosecuted at all. The accused is afforded the law as a shield, while every blemish and misstep in the accuser's life is brought out under a microscope for everyone to see and hear. I watched a young teen girl speak out against her stepfather and be faced with a parade of her teachers being brought in to comment as to whether she did all of her homework, and what excuses she gave if she did not. Then her mother attempted to bring in records from a counselor she forced her daughter to see -- a counselor who was a relative of the stepfather's.
I was basing my comments on my own experience with a family member. I was not sexually assaulted but was the recipient of some extremely vulgar texts and behavior by a family member.
It was something I was going to keep to myself because of the flood it would cause. It came to light anyways and when it did I was honest about what was going on. The only person to actually have any negative consequences from it was me.
It's hard with this Weinstein stuff coming out and the whole metoo thing. I see family members sharing that hashtag and honestly I want to tell them what (non dis friendly word) they are. They know what happened to me but since it was someone they were also close with they act like it didn't happen. It's something they don't want to take a side in so every family function I have to worry about if that person is going to show up, I have to listen to stories about the hilarious thing that person said or did when x family member saw him last. I have to forget what occurred or I'm the problem.