I'm personally involved with child protection in Australia, and I also work in an eating disorder treatment programme. The incident of people with eating disorders who have experienced childhood sexual assault (csa) is alarmingly high.
The statistics of childhood sexual assault in Australia is known to be 1inFive, but in reality is no doubt much higher. Like Japan the society largely doesn't want to hear about it.
I have posted here about my involvement before, particularly running marathons across the country to raise awareness and vital funds for child protection programmes in schools.
I can't run anymore, but I am supporting a friend and survivor towards her goal of running in the same event this year.
I will be shaving my head this month when she hits her target. She is almost there.
I decided to allow my hair to naturally become a statement /quiet protest, for silent suffering. Slowly it has become a dishevelled mess.
I want it to speak for people fighting the silence of assault and eating disorders.
Too often the perfectionistic presentation of anorexia screams behind a wall of control and self punishing rules.
The complete loss of control that is my do will be buzzed by survivors of csa at an event on 28th. Those survivors are victims of my own uncle.
He is a wealthy Australian fat cat who thought he was above the law. With money and the best barristers in the country he nearly got away with it.
This is our story as of last year.
https://steemit.com/life/@girlbeforemirror/why-i-pledged-to-run-almost-300kms-for-a-man-i-had-never-met-who-had-accused-a-man-i-had-loved-all-my-life-of-the-most-heinous
I will post the update soon.
Thank you for having this conversation and using your position on this platform to get these stories out.
Silence about this underbelly of our society only empowers the predators. Your brave words will have an impact.