In this deeply personal conversation, Murielle shares her experience of childhood sexual abuse, which she says began when she was just four years old in France. She describes how people trusted by her family were able to gain access to her, and how, as a very young child, she struggled to understand or communicate what was happening. She also reflects on the signs that something was wrong, the attempts she made to communicate her distress, and the isolation she experienced when the adults around her didn't understand what she was trying to tell them.
Murielle also talks about living for many years without conscious memories of much of what she says happened to her. Decades later, she began remembering her childhood experiences and started speaking with members of her family about what they remembered from that period. Her story raises an important question for parents and carers: how do we know that a child is really safe simply because we trust the adults around them?
Murielle speaks about the importance of noticing changes in a child's behaviour or wellbeing, listening carefully when a child tries to communicate something they may not have the words to explain, and recognising how difficult it can be for very young children to make sense of what has happened to them. She also shares her belief that technology could play a greater role in identifying connections between historic accounts of abuse. She hopes that bringing information together could help identify patterns and ultimately contribute to protecting children today.
To connect with Murielle:
http://www.association-iwas.com/
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyDGPTTDyGJ4_walXKyCxMTt1sR2XG8qb&si=1Z6rt1dSneIsZzuN
Join our YouTube or Patreon Memberships for extra content and early access:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SomethingtoSay
YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/@SomethingtoSayofficial/membership
To follow us on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somethingtosayofficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somethingtosayofficial1
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/something-to-say1
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@somethingtosayofficial
This podcast provides a platform for contributors to share their own lived experiences. Unless expressly stated otherwise, Something to Say has not independently verified the factual accuracy of statements made by contributors and does not endorse or adopt any allegations, assertions, opinions or conclusions expressed in this recording.
","author_name":"Something to Say"}