Missbrauchtes Vertrauen

Sexualized violence in childhood and adolescence not only has consequences for the victims. It also directly impacts the lives of parents, siblings, and other significant individuals, especially after the disclosure. In conversations with the author, family members share the sometimes dramatic effects on them, the strategies used to gain their trust, and the limits they encountered—even in their willingness to comprehensively address the abuse. They grapple with feelings of guilt for not having prevented the abuse or question why it seems easier to place the blame on themselves rather than on the perpetrators. They recount how, in discussions with the victims, they have managed to be a valuable support, process their own experiences, and sometimes channel that into social engagement.