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Archive
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| Forgiveness in the #MeToo Era |
| June 26, 2018 |
Many faith traditions emphasize the importance of forgiveness. But in the context of the #MeToo movement, can forgiveness silence women who have been abused? |
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| Can religious concepts of forgiveness silence #MeToo stories? |
June 26, 2018 |
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The hashtag "MeToo" became popularized last year, as women across industries and communities came forward to tell their stories of sexual abuse, harassment, and discrimination by men in power. And although it seemed that #MeToo has spread to every corner of America, some women who have suffered abuse within religious communities struggle to receive acknowledgement and justice. This can be, as we learn, exacerbated by the practice of forgiveness that many religious traditions teach. We hear from Zainab Salbi, documentarian and host of PBS’ “#Me Too, Now What?” series and chaplain at American University Rev. Mark Schaefer about how when forgiveness is improperly applied into a scenario of sexual abuse, it can leave the survivor feeling deeply invalidated.
Zainab Salbi, journalist, women's rights activist, host of PBS’ “#Me Too, Now What?” series
Rev. Mark Schaefer, University Chaplain at American University and author of The Certainty of Uncertainty |
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| Forced to forgive her abuser, a Mormon woman loses her faith |
June 26, 2018 |
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Alyssa, a young Mormon woman, tells us her personal story of sexual assault. When her church leaders pressured her to forgive her abuser, it made her feel as if her pain did not matter and that she wasn’t worthy of being believed. Tara Tulley, a social worker who grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, says in her work, she has encountered many women with a story similar to Alyssa’s.
Alyssa, Mormon woman who shares her #MeToo experience
Tara Tulley, social worker based in Utah
We also heard excerpts of a vox pop that answers the question, "What does it mean to forgive?" It was produced by Grace Gregory at EndPain, a storytelling platform and community reimagining the way we think about, talk about and process pain.
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| A woman betrayed by her rabbi hopes to one day forgive |
June 26, 2018 |
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Being forced to forgive an abuser can be a hugely painful experience, but some have decided to reach forgiveness at their own pace. After Washington D.C. resident and Jewish convert Karin Bleeg discovered that her former rabbi had been secretly videotaping dozens of naked women while preparing for their mikvah, or ritual bath, she felt violated. Still, she says she one day wants to forgive him, not for his sake, but for hers.
Karin Bleeg, Washington D.C. resident and Jewish convert
We also heard excerpts of a vox pop that answers the question, "What does it mean to forgive?" It was produced by Grace Gregory at EndPain, a storytelling platform and community reimagining the way we think about, talk about and process pain. |
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