Read on Twitter
The heir of the Gucci family has filed a lawsuit alleging that she was sexually abused by her stepfather for years. Her mother reportedly told her no one would believe her because she had used drugs and spent time in rehab. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/09/style/gucci-family-lawsuit.html?action=click&module=News&pgtype=Homepage&fbclid=IwAR389FMbu4j0nWcoIN2_Hy4gs796i4Z2TaYrDCFcnZyVWL7u31-Du-pHMRE
I'm no expert, but I've worked with many victims of sexual assault/abuse as a reporter, and I'm always so frustrated by these prevailing notions of what constitutes. credibility in a victim. A history of drug use, mental health issues, delayed reporting -- all very common!
And they're not just common because they're relatively common in the population at large. They're common because being a person who struggles with mental health issues and/or has addictions increases one's likelihood of being victimized. Sexual predators look for easy prey.
They're also common because developing depression, anxiety, certain kinds of compulsive behaviors, and self-medicating with legal or illegal drugs or alcohol are all pretty understandable reactions to this particular kind of violation.
Back in the day, I interviewed a detective who had spent years as the head of the Fort Worth Police Department's sex crimes unit. She told me in passing that she had never known of a single woman collared for drug-related crimes who did *not* have a history of sexual abuse.
Stuck with me. Anyway!
