Questions like these come quickly and easily in a culture that has long demonstrated a tendency to shun such stories.
Here are 12 walls that I’ve observed in my own work and research that prevent abuse survivors from ever telling their story:
If the story threatens the identity, money, or position of an abuser, then many might seek to discredit the story to protect the more powerful individual.
The community can turn against the survivor for betraying what they feel are higher and more important virtues.
The survivor might worry about what will happen to someone they've known for a long time.
They also fear being rejected by those closest to them - those angry about the exposure.
These narcissistic systems will condemn any they believe are needlessly giving reasons for outsiders to look upon the people and their beliefs with suspicion.
It's been suggested to many survivors that their abuse was self-inflicted, either through their attire, attractiveness, assertive personality, or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Some respond by simply distancing themselves by not responding at all or by quickly dismissing what they would rather not hear. Their silence can be unspeakably painful.
When people ask, “Why didn't you say something?” they are implicitly suggesting the survivor is at fault for not reporting the abuse.
In some cases, survivors have had to relocate to another school, church, or community to escape harassment by others.
The abuser exploits the survivor's concern for the abuser's well-being by threatening suicide or that their life will be ruined if they ever tell someone.
Nevertheless, we tend to be quick to question the motivations of survivors who tell and we are not so quick to consider the many motivations that exist for never telling.