04/24/2026
Charges of child sexual abuse are often dropped (if it is even reported at all) because there are a lot of assumptions (even with professionals and law enforcement) about how a victim should act.
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In many cases, the child will appear very attached and bonded with their abuser - this is part of the grooming process which can just as easily deceive adults as well as children.
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Regarding Larry Nassar and the USA gymnastics team, many commented wanting to know why these young women didn’t tell... Dr Nassar told them it was normal, that it was part of the procedure and they trusted him because everyone told them (and their parents) that he was the best. He was a master- of manipulating people with his authority.
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Imagine being a child abused by the person who provides for your family or someone in a position to put your family in danger- do you tell and put others at risk, or do you sacrifice yourself to maintain the life you fear of losing? Many don’t realize how much responsibility children are willing to bear because they love their family.
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Some children know that telling will only lead to them being punished and that the facade of normalcy is better than the truth of knowing the people who are supposed to protext you, won’t.
No two stories are alike and we could go on and on with all the reasons why. There is no one way that survivors cope with abuse, but there is one correct way to respond: with patience, compassion, and believing them.
TheMamaBearEffect.org
