Sexual Abuse in Families: Be Brave and Address the Harm

"There are parents who learn about and address the abuse when it is happening. They stop it. They deal with it as a family. Other parents learn about the abuse through disclosure by survivors after it has stopped, and they confront the harm. This was not my experience with my parents."

"I have known for a long time that both of my parents suffered trauma early in their lives that they never addressed. That meant they hadn't learned how to confront, deal with, stop, or even recognize the trauma that was being inflicted on their own children. This history left me and my siblings vulnerable, vulnerable both to being harmed and to causing harm."

"Do you want to support sexual abuse survivors? Then work to prevent more kids from being sexually abused, especially in their families by their family members. Bring the reality of sexual abuse and incest into the light."

Sexual abuse survivors experience profound shame and self-blame that compounds their trauma. Parents have a responsibility to recognize, stop, and address sexual abuse within their families. Some parents actively intervene when abuse occurs, while others confront harm after survivors disclose. Unaddressed parental trauma perpetuates generational cycles, leaving children vulnerable to both experiencing and causing harm. Breaking this cycle requires normalizing conversations about incest and intrafamilial sexual abuse, teaching consent and agency, and following examples of parents who actively address abuse. Supporting survivors means preventing future abuse through family intervention and bringing hidden trauma into the light.

Read at Psychology Today