Stephanie

“In the current context, I think it’s a long term strategy addressing toxic masculinity, misogyny, violence against women and children…On a more practical and achievable level, an easy explanation for survivors, and to educate the courts, police, family members, [and] the public to explain what is happening in a child’s or young person’s development and thinking, why sometimes they don’t scream, don’t say no, don’t tell anyone, why a child still acts fine with the abuser in non-offending contexts, why the offender doesn’t need force or violence, because it doesn’t make sense to a survivor when they grow up who feels guilty that they let it happen and a lesser person, or to all the other adults in the system who also judge. I’m sure this contributes to low rates of believing children and low rates of conviction and there would be a way to properly explain. I’m sure it’s complex and different for different people which is why it’s hard to explain, it’s more than stigma or worrying you won’t be believed, a much more mortifying feeling, and a feeling of responsibility, maybe to do with the breach of fundamental trust that you keep trying to get back to “normal” without “rocking the boat” as well as attachment, child development, neuroscience info in simple concepts, so that people understand and accept it.”