Trigger warning: Assault.
Hi everyone,
As some of you may already know, I’m on a therapeutic journey to share and process past abuse, to become more confident and accepting of my sexuality, and to find solidarity and community.
I grew up in an extremely oppressive religious community that was rife with sexual assault and corporal abuse. It was run by predatory men and the abuses were never discussed.
In that light, I’m going to share an experience I had at summer bible camp.
The Bible camp I went to was coed, but the girls and boys cabins were separated across a large lake to discourage any unsuitable interactions. We would be mixed together for the midday meal (breakfast and dinner were gendered and staggered), some activities, and some events. We also had a strict buddy system, so no one was ever allowed to go anywhere without a buddy.