Chabria: Trauma Explains Delayed Sexual Assault Allegations Against Powerful Men
In this commentary, Los Angeles Times columnist Anita Chabria addresses the pervasive question of why sexual assault survivors often delay coming forward. Responding to recent allegations against California Representative Eric Swalwell and other high-profile figures, Chabria argues that trauma recovery dictates the timing of disclosure, not ulterior motives. She contends that survivors speak out when the pain of silence outweighs the fear of societal backlash, which frequently includes accusations of lying or seeking attention. The article highlights that even powerful women face intense scrutiny and presumption of dishonesty when accusing influential men like Harvey Weinstein, Donald Trump, and Larry Nassar. Chabria asserts that the query 'Why now?' is merely a polite variant of victim-blaming rhetoric designed to protect predators and evade justice. By citing various cases, including those involving Cassie Ventura and E. Jean Carroll, she emphasizes that there is no correct way or perfect time to report abuse. The piece serves as a defense of survivors' credibility, challenging the public's ignorance regarding how trauma functions and criticizing the systemic power dynamics that allow abusers to act with impunity while silencing their victims through fear of reputational destruction.
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Chabria: Trauma Explains Delayed Sexual Assault Allegations Against Powerful Men
In this commentary, Los Angeles Times columnist Anita Chabria addresses the pervasive question of why sexual assault survivors often delay coming forward. Responding to recent allegations against California Representative Eric Swalwell and other high-profile figures, Chabria argues that trauma recovery dictates the timing of disclosure, not ulterior motives. She contends that survivors speak out when the pain of silence outweighs the fear of societal backlash, which frequently includes accusations of lying or seeking attention. The article highlights that even powerful women face intense scrutiny and presumption of dishonesty when accusing influential men like Harvey Weinstein, Donald Trump, and Larry Nassar. Chabria asserts that the query 'Why now?' is merely a polite variant of victim-blaming rhetoric designed to protect predators and evade justice. By citing various cases, including those involving Cassie Ventura and E. Jean Carroll, she emphasizes that there is no correct way or perfect time to report abuse. The piece serves as a defense of survivors' credibility, challenging the public's ignorance regarding how trauma functions and criticizing the systemic power dynamics that allow abusers to act with impunity while silencing their victims through fear of reputational destruction.
latimes