As a survivor, I need TV to do better

It’s getting to the point where I’m grateful for any sort of representation on childhood sexual abuse in the media, no matter how clumsy it feels. It’s getting to the point where I’m grateful for any sort of representation on childhood sexual abuse in the media, no matter how clumsy it feels.

The parents in Nightmare on Elm Street deciding to deny their children’s trauma when flashbacks resurface? At least child sexual abuse is presented as horrific. The parents in Nightmare on Elm Street deciding to deny their children’s trauma when flashbacks resurface? At least child sexual abuse is presented as horrific.

Vigilante paedophile hunters beating up abusers in the street and posting it on YouTube? At least they’re reminding us that child sexual abuse is an underfunded issue. Vigilante paedophile hunters beating up abusers in the street and posting it on YouTube? At least they’re reminding us that child sexual abuse is an underfunded issue.

The grooming plotline in Season 4 of Netflix’s Sex Education which introduced and wrapped up the entire story in 5.83 minutes?* At least we were mentioned in a major TV show… The grooming plotline in Season 4 of Netflix’s Sex Education which introduced and wrapped up the entire story in 5.83 minutes?* At least we were mentioned in a major TV show…

We don’t have much child sexual abuse representation on TV unless we are specifically searching for it. For some, these scenes may be triggering, but for others it can be validating to see their experiences on the screen – if done right. We don’t have much child sexual abuse representation on TV unless we are specifically searching for it. For some, these scenes may be triggering, but for others it can be validating to see their experiences on the screen – if done right.

I’ve watched a lot of TV, but I could only think of two notable scenes. I’ve watched a lot of TV, but I could only think of two notable scenes. I decided to rank each scene out of 5 based on a combination of 3 factors: the realism of themes explored in the scene, how the scene fits into the overall story and how accurately the abuse is dealt with by the surrounding characters. Of course, there are heavy spoilers in the following sections. I decided to rank each scene out of 5 based on a combination of 3 factors: the realism of themes explored in the scene, how the scene fits into the overall story and how accurately the abuse is dealt with by the surrounding characters. Of course, there are heavy spoilers in the following sections.

As a survivor, I need TV to do better

By Sophia Luu Read article