Part 2: Sexual Assault, Family Systems, and the Weight of Not Being Believed
⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: This post discusses childhood sexual assault, family dynamics, and trauma-related emotional impact. Please read with care. What happens when sexual assault doesn’t just happen… …but happens in your youth ? And not at the hands of a stranger, but someone you know. Someone your family knows. Someone trusted. Someone who had access to you. The Truth We Avoid Sexual assault is more likely to come from someone known to you or your family. About 9 out of 10 survivors know the perpetrator Many assaults are committed by: Family members Family friends Intimate partners Community members So when we teach people to fear strangers… We are missing where the real risk often lives. When It Happens in Youth 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys experience sexual violence before age 18 And yet, instead of protecting children, we often hear: “She’s too fast” “They’re mature for their age” “They knew what they were doing” At our big age, we know what a child is. We know what a teenager is. S...
