If you were abused by an adult, you must remember the abuse is always the adult's responsibility. Children can't, and are not allowed to, make an informed choice about a sexual relationship with an adult. Adults are always responsible for not letting their relationship with a child become sexual. Even if your abuser was only slightly older than you, it's important to recognize that age equals power. Free choice occurs only in a relationship where the power is balanced. Other questions to ask yourself: Did you really have the power to stop the abuse? Even if you believe now that you had that power, did you believe it then? Were you really free to say no? Even if you believe that you should have been able to do or say something, your age and your dependent status, as well as your need to feel loved and to maintain a sense of stability and normalcy, put you in a position of powerlessness or helplessness. Even if your abuser was close to the same age, the same power issues come to play--the victim sees the abuser as more powerful or as someone that he/she cannot say "no" too. Even
if you didn't want to stop the abuse, Please check back in the future for a Question/Answer page relating to frequent "but what if" scenarios that survivors bring up, leading to blame and increased shame. One rule still holds true: You are NEVER to blame for what happened to you as a child. |
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Comments, questions, or suggestions? Please, email me. |
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Sexual
Abuse Survivors Home | NOT to Blame |
Effects | Commitment to Healing | Resources |
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Jonathan P. Levine, CSW
2300 West Ridge Rd.
Rochester, NY 14626
(585)
225-0330
jonathan@aquietvoice.com
Updated on 06/12/2002 |