Episode 126: #SurvivorStories Series with "Courtney" on family court as a enabler of child sexual abuse

en(gender)ed

**Trigger Warning: This episode discusses child sexual abuse and symptoms of it.**

On this #SurvivorStories series episode, our guest is “Courtney,” a survivor of domestic and institutional abuse. Courtney speaks to us about her experience navigating the family court, child welfare, medical and mental health systems, as a protective mom of a son who was allegedly physically abused, neglected, and sexually abused by his father. We explore the ways in which family courts ignore evidence of abuse, minimize it, and act as a source of institutional abuse and re-traumatization for victims and their children. We also look at the impact it has on the protective parent, child, and society as a whole. Throughout our conversation, we ask "Courtney" to share #abusertactics, #signsofabuse, and #upstandertips.

During our conversation, "Courtney" and I referenced the following resources and topics:

• How abusers often use pets as a source of coercive control
• How the family court disbelieves survivors' claims of abuse, especially when it's mothers reporting, and then penalize them for speaking out
• How coercive control is a form of intimate partner terrorism

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