Why Little Miss Sunshine actress didn't report her rapist like most other women
- Abigail Breslin said her rapist was an ex-partner.
- She feared he would hurt her more.
FollowIn most countries, it’s difficult to find exact statistics of sex crimes because acts that violate a person’s dignity are difficult to report. Women across the world have, at some point, felt violated but rarely ensure that they receive justice. Vindication, in this context, has little significance. And actress Abigail Breslin is aware of this.
The child prodigy, who starred in the 2006 film Little Miss Sunshine, reminded the world why women don’t report rape. The actress recounted her own experience of rape in an Instagram post and exposed the endless loop of fear and denial that takes over women after an episode like this.
The actress, who is set to appear in Dirty Dancing remake, said her rapist was known to her. She said it was her ex-partner who violated her at the age of 13. And she feared he would inflict more harm if she reported it to the police.
The actress’s revelatory Instagram note was in response to a commentator who said only reported rape cases matter. But Breslin's post defended the many women who haven’t looked to the law for justice. Her post highlighted the anguish of many who felt that being heard could be more painful than suppressing it.
The actress is just one of the many women across the world who's had to live with the fear that's attached to this crime. Closer home, women are often silent when they've been assaulted. Perhaps its the stigma that stops them from reporting it or maybe its because rapists, sexual predators and crimes against women are often committed by those who know the victim personally. Like the actress, countless women fear that they could be harmed again if their rapist is given a light sentence and allowed access to them even after facing jail time. There's a certain resilience in silence and if anything, the post reminds women of that.
