Childhood sexual assault survivor, Denise Shellyann Clarke shares her story in her latest book, My Protector Was My Molester978-1-951630-57-7. As a young child, Clarke was sexually abused by her father for years. As she grew older, the abuse escalated, and staying home became increasingly difficult. At one point in high school, Clarke had to take up extra-curricular activities just to avoid going back home to her abuser. She had to overcome many struggles in life to reach where she is today. By sharing her story, Clarke wants to empower and encourage other survivors to come forward with their stories. Our society tends to focus on silencing survivors rather than holding abusers accountable for the atrocities they commit. This mentality needs to be eradicated, especially to help survivors recover from the trauma of being assaulted.
For survivors, sharing their stories of trauma can help their recovery process. It can help them heal from the abuse and violence they suffered. It also eliminates the social stigma attached to the subject of rape and abuse. A sexual assault survivor, Louise from Pandora’s Project, speaks on the benefits of speaking out in the following excerpts, as she quotes an American psychiatrist, Judith Herman:
· Why speaking out about sexual assault is good socially
Survivors of sexual assault who publicly speak out create change in the silence that surrounds this crime. Your act of speakingout can end the false sense of shame that survivors often carry. Seeing you cast off the shame may inspire them to do the same.In speaking out about partner rape, I have received many warm and heartfelt correspondences from people who felt veryisolated but who now know that they’re not alone, that they can seek help, and that they can heal. Seeing people’s liveschanging in this way is one of the greatest fruits my efforts can bear, and I am intensely glad to have used my voice to helpfacilitate it.
· Why speaking out about sexual assault is good personally
We hear from Judith Herman: “Survivors undertake to speak about the unspeakable in public in the belief that this willhelp others. In so doing, they feel connected to a power larger than themselves.” I have experienced the sense that not only does speaking out help other survivors feel less isolated, but that I, too, feel less alone as I join with others engaged in the samebattle. It is also richly empowering to have transformed my experiences into the ability to offer something worthwhile to othersurvivors.
In speaking out, you become part of destroying the forces that have harmed and hurt you. This has been one of the greatest expedients to my own healing. It is just such a fine way to fight back and can reduce one’s own fear and shame. There is even alittle thrill of vengeance towards those who attempted to silence me. Fools – I can tell the world if I want to – it’s my voice!
Comentarios