My mother, my abuser
Description
The sexual abuse of children committed by women, most often mothers, is a rarely documented subject. In this film, six victims of maternal incest powerfully convey their nightmarish child hoods. "It is common that young children do not have the words to tell other people" says Michelle Elliott, psychologist and author of Female Sexual Abuse of Children. The abuse often begins in infancy when children do not understand what their mother is doing. They lose hope that anyone will stop it and cannot talk about it until decades later. Often, physical violence accompanies the sexual abuse. From the age of two for eleven years, Lucy was abused by her mother who tried to smother her with a pillow when she refused to submit. The mother began abusing Lucy's younger sister when Lucy reached thirteen. Paul could not share his memories of abuse and feelings of abandonment with anyone. His secret dragged him into depression, hallucinations and institutionalization. The psychologist Monique Tardif of the Institute Philippe Pinet in Montreal says many incestuous mothers were abused by their fathers and later treat their own children as rivals for their husbands love. She believes sexual abuse by mothers is much more common than formerly believed. The trauma is very deep and the victims often suffer for the rest of their lives. Ironically, many victims continue to seek maternal love long after they have been in therapy and have articulated the awful truth.
Runtime
42 min
Creator
Courchesne, Helene
Subjects
Genre
Date of Publication
2006
Database
Alexander Street
Direct Link
Similar Films
The mother
A Mother never gives up hope. Older mothers and abusive adult sons
Protecting children. Four true stories
Umoja, the Village Where Men Are Forbidden
60 minutes. A question of justice
Why women count video clip collection
TEDTalks. Helen Fisher, The Brain in Love
60 minutes. Cardinal Sean
Juggling
Late arrivals
Respiro
Believe me
Cuba. Daughters of Fidel
Mexico. Rebellion of the weeping women
White on black