MeToo is Not Over and Childhood Sexual Abuse is Not Dead
Before 2020, a media burst put the MeToo movement in the spotlight. The world was introduced to people like Tarana Burke and galvanized by known celebrities like Alyssa Milano. The public began to confront and talk about sexual harassment and violation. It also opened the door for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to tell their stories. Often whispered, denied, or avoided, the topic was shouted from mountain tops by front page news and social media posts. Compliance trainings about sexual harassment were no longer checkbox requirements. Sexual harassment and violation were not acceptable and would not be tolerated.
Then COVID came. Racial unrest broke out. Political gang wars grew. And MeToo seemed to be silenced by the next BIG story.
However, MeToo is not over and its close cousin childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is not dead. Long after we find the most effective solutions for the virus; long after we find a way to finally live harmoniously with our differences, we will still have MeToo incidences and CSA atrocities.
What is the difference between MeToo and Childhood Sexual Abuse?
They are different and related.
Tarana Burke, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, coined the phrase "me too" as a way of helping young African American girls discover avenues to share and heal from their own sexual abuse experiences. However, #MeToo did not gain global attention until celebrity Alyssa Milano tweeted about her own experience with sexual harassment and violation. At that moment, MeToo expanded beyond conversations about teenage girls dealing with sexual trauma. MeToo became a moniker to cover all the layers of sexual abuse. In doing so, it gave its cousin, CSA, a chance to step out of the shadows.`
Childhood sexual abuse is a topic we abhor, but also shy away from openly discussing. According to the site Darkness to Light, CSA is "any sexual act between an adult and a minor, or between two minors when one exerts power over the other. It also includes non-contact acts such as exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, and voyeurism."
Unfortunately, CSA does not have, nor has had, the media attention it needs to be recognized as a public health issue. Instead, we see one horrific story which we immediately respond to in our own way and then wait until the next story.
Childhood Sexual Abuse Revealed
Being out of the spotlight does not mean CSA has gone away or is not as bad as before. CSA is a problem with no preference for race, age, sex, religion, education level, economic status, political affiliation, and beyond. It is the one of the few issues with worldwide occurrence and impact. Many have experienced it, know someone who has, or don't know they know someone who has. Its potential outcome includes profound mental health issues. The World Health Organization says CSA survivors may have complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, CSA creates the potential for sexually abused children to become adults who sexually abuse other children or who sexually harass and violate adults.
On top of all this, the isolation and stress of 2020, may have been difficult for children experiencing abuse and for adult survivors of abuse.
Flip the Script
CSA is the longest running form of pandemic. It needs a solution.
Yet, we continue to treat it like a big family secret. We avoid the conversation because we feel uncomfortable or we may feel guilt or shame if we are survivors.
How can we 'flip the script" on this conversation? Let's put in in the spotlight with two questions:
How can we stop CSA?
How do we help survivors (children and adults) heal?
I'm curious. What suggestions do you have to answer these questions? Share with me in the comments.
