Most times when I come across someone who says something like the abused shouldn't want children or sex and so on it usually turns out to be a blanket statement to cover the fact that they themselves had been abused and making comments like that throws those listening off the topic and directs the conversation away from others suspecting the abuse happened. So when this happens I turn the conversation to statistics (everyone is comfortable talking statistics instead of personal) and tell the person that sexual abuse happens more than people realize, that statistics show that one in every three girls have been and/or will be sexually abused at some point in their lives and one in four boys will have been and/or will be sexually abused in their lives. Then I calculate how many that makes in the agency, department room whatever that I am in at that moment for example if there is 21 women in the room and 20 men give or take in the room then 7 of those women and 5 of those men have been sexually abused and/or will be sexually abused at some point in their lives. That lets the person know that they aren't alone and usually within a few days comes forth with their own admission that they have been abused and sometimes an appology for their statement.
Blanket statements hurt me too but Ive learned the person making those statements are usually hurting more than me so I take out my anger on things like playdough, ripping paper up and so on and when the person comes forward I make myself available to helping them to feel better and educating them on resources and so on so they don't have to push people away with blanket statements during conversations that make them uncomfortable.
|