Chapters 2 & 3
In Chapters 2 and 3 of Canary: The Washin
gton Post Investigates, we meet Carole Griffin. Beginning when she was sixteen, Carole was sexually assaulted by a friend of her parents. Now, 40 years later, Carole is sharing her story, and how it intertwines with Lauren Clark’s.
Carole’s experience with sexual violence is common. One in ten children under the age of 18 will experience sexual abuse, and 93% of child services know the perpetrator. Child sexual abuse survivors often fear telling their parents or guardians they were assaulted, because the perpetrator may be a family member or a close family friend, as in Carole’s experience. Moreover, young survivors may feel what many survivors do regardless of age—that the abuse they suffered was their fault. However, perpetrators are skilled at targeting and grooming victims.
If you or someone you love has experience sexual violence as a minor, you can learn more about your options by reading Victim Rights Law Center’s “How Do I Talk About the Violence I Experienced: A Guide for K-12 Students and their Caretakers,” or by checking our services. Victim Rights Law Center is dedicated to supporting survivors of all ages and may be able to offer legal support to survivors under eighteen in Massachusetts and Oregon. Please contact us.
Discussion Questions
- Why might Carole feel like the sexual violence she experienced was her fault? Did her family do or not do anything that may have made her feel that way? What could they have done differently?
- How can parents and guardians discuss issues of sexual assault with their children?
- Amy Brittain recognizes the sensitivity of the topic she is reporting on, and it is reflected in how she speaks to Carole about being assaulted. What are examples of how Amy validates and supports Carole during her interviews? How can you use these examples in conversations with your loved ones who may share their experience of sexual violence with you?
- In Chapter 2, the podcast title is mentioned for the first time. Carole’s partner refers to her as a canary in a coal mine, and his statement also reminds Amy of Lauren Clark. What is the significance of the “canaries” of sexual violence in our culture? How can we support them?
Check out the Chapter 4 Guide here!