CW: child abuse // sexual assault
When Oprah’s ‘In Conversation’ Australian tour came to town in December, I thought it could be a good mother-daughter bonding event, so I took Kitty along.
The 71-year-old media queen and cultural icon was thought-provoking and uplifting, and after the event, Kitty and I spoke about the different stories she’d shared while chipping away at a cup of late-night gelato.
Oprah encouraged the audience to take on board some of the most powerful life lessons she has learnt. Amongst the themes Oprah explored were happiness, personal growth, resilience, and finding your purpose.
I’ve retold her advice since then to “listen to the whispers” when something just doesn’t seem quite right or leaves you puzzled, to not shrug off that warning and leave it behind, because the whisper will become louder and louder until it is a problem.
She spoke about sexual assault and grooming for the lion’s share of the evening, citing the statistics in the USA and Australia that 1 in 3 women in our countries are victims. Oprah shared her own very personal story from the age of nine and spoke about the shame and guilt most victims carry with them throughout their lives. She encouraged them to let it go, that it was not their fault.
She spoke of the predatory intentions of the older relative who was one of her groomers and his seductive plans to inch closer using his position of power. She spoke of not being believed by her father that it was abuse when she told him, because it was consensual. Her mother’s response was that she didn’t want to know.
These difficult conversations are needed globally in order to impact upon this dreadful culture, and in talking about sexual abuse on such a platform, Oprah opened the door for healing for many victims.
If you or someone you know needs support, call child abuse information and support line Bravehearts on 1800 272 831; or the national domestic, family and sexual assault helpline on 1800 RESPECT.
