{"id":5280,"date":"2018-01-23T18:33:19","date_gmt":"2018-01-23T18:33:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/?p=5280"},"modified":"2025-06-10T13:45:33","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T17:45:33","slug":"language-matters-call-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/safe-blog\/language-matters-call-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Language Matters: Call Out Abuse For What It Is"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5281 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Language-Matters-Call-Out-Abuse-For-What-It-Is.jpeg\" alt=\"Language Matters: Call Out Abuse For What It Is\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/safehorizon.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Language-Matters-Call-Out-Abuse-For-What-It-Is.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/safehorizon.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Language-Matters-Call-Out-Abuse-For-What-It-Is-300x169.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>January 23, 2017<\/em><\/p>\n<p>On Sunday,\u00a0HuffPost reporter Matthew Jacobs posted a review of the upcoming film, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/entry\/the-tale-laura-dern-review_us_5a63c335e4b0dc592a0966f3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Tale<\/a>. The movie tells a story of an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse coming to terms with her\u00a0experience and understanding it from an adult&#8217;s perspective. While it was a rave review of a groundbreaking\u00a0film, we feel that the analysis of the survivor&#8217;s experience missed some key points in how we discuss sexual violence.<\/p>\n<p>Take a look at our Twitter thread below, which examines Jacobs&#8217; language:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">It is vital that we keep telling stories like <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheTaleMovie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TheTaleMovie<\/a>, examining them, and learning from them. Thank you to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jenniferfox?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@JenniferFox<\/a> for sharing your story. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HuffPost?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@HuffPost<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/tarantallegra?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@tarantallegra<\/a>, let&#8217;s examine it a little closer now than you did in your review. (thread) <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6EryveLIYJ\">https:\/\/t.co\/6EryveLIYJ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Safe Horizon (@SafeHorizon) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SafeHorizon\/status\/955570631390760965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 22, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">You said, &#8220;a complex story of rape, power and misremembering.&#8221; We say, &#8220;a complex story of child abuse and traumatic memory.&#8221; Traumatic memories are not formed or stored in the same way as other ones. Malformed memories are the normal biological response to trauma.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Safe Horizon (@SafeHorizon) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SafeHorizon\/status\/955570634569986048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 22, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">You said, &#8220;Jenny&#8217;s naivety and appetite for affection cloud her judgment.&#8221; We say, &#8220;Jenny was 13 and so was not in a position to judge the appropriateness of an interaction or to consent to sexual activity. Her abuser exploited her desire for affection.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Safe Horizon (@SafeHorizon) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SafeHorizon\/status\/955570638940508161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 22, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">We cannot conflate sexual abuse of a child with sexual assault of an adult. Children often do not have the vocabulary or social context to understand what&#8217;s happening or to explain it to skeptical adults, or the power to extricate themselves from an abusive environment.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Safe Horizon (@SafeHorizon) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SafeHorizon\/status\/955570641163472898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 22, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">You said, referring to the 1970s, &#8220;Nobody talked about sexual assault or power conflicts with the import that today&#8217;s dialogue assumes.&#8221; We say, &#8220;Throughout history, men had cultivated an environment in which women and girls faced very real threats for reporting their abuse.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Safe Horizon (@SafeHorizon) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SafeHorizon\/status\/955570642912534533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 22, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">You said &#8220;adolescent affair,&#8221; &#8220;they made her their lover,&#8221; and &#8220;fornicating with young Jenny&#8221;. We say &#8220;pattern of sexual abuse,&#8221; &#8220;they sexually abused her,&#8221; and &#8220;sexually abusing Jenny.&#8221; Sexual abuse is not loving or sexy. A 13-year-old cannot consent.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Safe Horizon (@SafeHorizon) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SafeHorizon\/status\/955570644523147264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 22, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/tarantallegra?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@tarantallegra<\/a> we appreciate your review of this groundbreaking film, and what appear to be your good intentions in highlighting issues of sexual violence, but we encourage everyone engaging in these conversations to reexamine the words they use.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Safe Horizon (@SafeHorizon) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SafeHorizon\/status\/955570646225997824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 22, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Please know that we chose to make this commentary public so that others can benefit from learning how to appropriately frame and describe issues of sexual violence, child abuse, and trauma. Telling these stories is important, but the way in which we tell them matters, too.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Safe Horizon (@SafeHorizon) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SafeHorizon\/status\/955570648172163077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 22, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Safe Horizon comments on how a HuffPost review of \u2018The Tale,\u2019 a film about childhood sexual abuse, can use more appropriate language to describe issues of sexual violence, child abuse, and trauma.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":{"id":5281,"alt_text":"Language Matters: Call Out Abuse For What It Is","caption":"","description":"","media_type":"image","media_details":{"width":720,"height":405,"file":"2018\/01\/Language-Matters-Call-Out-Abuse-For-What-It-Is.jpeg","sizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"Language-Matters-Call-Out-Abuse-For-What-It-Is-150x150.jpeg","width":150,"height":150,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Language-Matters-Call-Out-Abuse-For-What-It-Is-150x150.jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"Language-Matters-Call-Out-Abuse-For-What-It-Is-300x169.jpeg","width":300,"height":169,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Language-Matters-Call-Out-Abuse-For-What-It-Is-300x169.jpeg"}},"image_meta":{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"Laura Dern and Isabel Nelisse appear in <i>The Tale<\/i> by Jennifer Fox, an official selection of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Kyle Kaplan.  All photos are copyrighted and may be used by press only for the purpose of news or editorial coverage of Sundance Institute programs. Photos must be accompanied by a credit to the photographer and\/or 'Courtesy of Sundance Institute.' Unauthorized use, alteration, reproduction or sale of logos and\/or photos is strictly prohibited.","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"All photos are copyrighted and may be used by press only for the purpose of news or editorial coverage of Sundance Institute pro","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0","keywords":[]}},"post":5280,"source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Language-Matters-Call-Out-Abuse-For-What-It-Is.jpeg"},"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2015],"tags":[141,159,63,815,813],"class_list":["post-5280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-safe-blog","tag-child-abuse","tag-child-sex-abuse","tag-childhood-sexual-abuse","tag-laura-dern","tag-the-tale","issue-child-abuse","issue-rape-and-sexual-assault"],"acf":{"page_header_title":"","page_header_image":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/silhouette_hero_image.png","page_header_excerpt":"","original_url":"","related_initiative_title":"How do we help survivors of child abuse?","related_initiative_link":"\/get-help\/child-abuse\/","related_initiative_link_text":"Learn about our services","featured_posts":[{"ID":4481,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2017-05-19 16:45:23","post_date_gmt":"2017-05-19 16:45:23","post_content":"<em>By Michael Polenberg<\/em>\r\n<em>May 19, 2017<\/em>\r\n\r\nNew York State has some of the nation\u2019s most prohibitive\u00a0statute of limitation\u00a0laws when it comes to supporting adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.\u00a0Most survivors only have until the age of 23 to bring court proceedings against those responsible for the abuse.\r\n\r\nFor many years, Safe Horizon has joined with a coalition of survivors, victim service providers, advocacy organizations, and national experts to advocate for legislation that would expand the ability for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to seek relief in the courts. This legislation is known as the Child Victims Act. In 2018, Safe Horizon and the other coalition members have been meeting with key members of the Governor\u2019s administration and New York State Legislature to move this legislation forward.\r\n\r\nThere are three specific points the coalition is advocating for to be part of the Child Victims Act:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Extend the criminal and civil statute of limitations going forward to allow survivors a greater opportunity to seek justice in our courts.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Create a one-year retrospective \u201cwindow\u201d to allow victims over the age of 23 to be able to initiate a civil lawsuit.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Eliminate the 90-day notice of claim for litigation against public institutions, which has been as a barrier for victims of abuse and their families.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThe long-overdue legislation would reform New York\u2019s overly rigid statute of limitation laws for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and allow more time to bring criminal charges and file civil litigation against those responsible.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, Senate Republicans have failed to hold even a single hearing on the Child Victims Act in 2018. They have failed to broaden the path to justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan and his conference continue to protect institutions from liability instead of aligning with survivors seeking justice.\r\n\r\nWhile there is still much work to be done to advance legislation with all three points the coalition is advocating for, I\u00a0remain confident meaningful reform will happen. And Safe Horizon remains absolutely committed to seeing this bill passed. Our support will not waver.\r\n\r\nNew York State arbitrarily says once most survivors of sexual abuse turn 23 they lose the right to have their day in court. We vigorously oppose this arbitrary time limit. Abusers should not be able to run out the clock on being held accountable. The paths to justice for survivors must be broadened immediately.","post_title":"Child Victims Act","post_excerpt":"VP of Government Affairs Michael Polenberg explains his participation in a coalition that seeks to reform current laws that hinder most adult victims of childhood sex abuse from seeking justice.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"advocates-child-abuse-victims-reform-statute-limitations","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-07 15:03:52","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-07 19:03:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/?p=4481","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"title_font_size":"42","sub-headline_placement":false,"custom_scripts":false,"show_author_bio":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.5 (Yoast SEO v26.3) - 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