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Cath's avatar

We knew a family, quite closely, for over five years before we learned their 14 year old had been repeatedly raped and impregnated by a family friend. I never doubted this story, however it was sensationalized.

As per usual, these stories are a source of shame, embarrassment, and guilt. The parent's can't believe they didn't see what was happening, the child is coerced into silence, the perpetrator is in a position of trust and once the unthinkable happens, no one wants to talk about it. What none of us should ever think is that it is not happening on a larger scale than just this one story. Most victims are never heard from, they do not make the news. In religious circles they are forced to marry their rapists, in other situations they are just blamed for what happened and in too many they are just swept aside, no one cares what happens to them.

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