I Believe Dylan Farrow
I applaud Dylan for coming forward as an adult to speak her truth, especially since the prosecutor decided not to go forward with her case because of the trauma for her (especially in a high profile family). She deserved her day in court but I guess her day in public is the next best thing.
As I observe the public responses I've been triggered as the mother of an abuse survivor who also wasn't believed by her half-siblings and by the community we lived in. I was cast as the vengeful bitch (so I feel for Mia) and my daughter as the liar (or else deluded by me). Think about what it means to be told no one believes you or that you have (as a mother) brainwashed your child to believe something horrible happened to her! I can't begin to tell you how awful it is. On top of the original injury you have a new wound. The lack of support is so painful, the accusations vile, and meanwhile people still support the abuser who is getting no punishment whatsoever. People call him a nice guy. It feels like there is no justice in the world.
That story is here: http://tapati.livejournal.com/550153.html
Some of the coverage I have appreciated following Dylan's open letter:
http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/an-open-letter-from-dylan-farrow/ Her open letter
http://www.shakesville.com/2014/02/dylan-farrow-rape-apologia-rape-culture.html
http://quadcitypat.blogspot.com/2014/02/an-investigative-look-at-woody-allen.html?spref=tw
http://www.thenation.com/blog/178203/choosing-comfort-over-truth-what-it-means-defend-woody-allen
http://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/archive/1992/11/farrow199211 Back when Dylan first reported her abuse, a long story appeared in Vanity Fair.
http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20066950,00.html for this quote: He goes on: "I'm open-minded about sex. I'm not above reproach; if anything, I'm below reproach. I mean, if I was caught in a love nest with 15 12-year-old girls tomorrow, people would think, yeah, I always knew that about him." Allen pauses. "Nothing I could come up with would surprise anyone," he ventures helplessly. "I admit to it all."
As I observe the public responses I've been triggered as the mother of an abuse survivor who also wasn't believed by her half-siblings and by the community we lived in. I was cast as the vengeful bitch (so I feel for Mia) and my daughter as the liar (or else deluded by me). Think about what it means to be told no one believes you or that you have (as a mother) brainwashed your child to believe something horrible happened to her! I can't begin to tell you how awful it is. On top of the original injury you have a new wound. The lack of support is so painful, the accusations vile, and meanwhile people still support the abuser who is getting no punishment whatsoever. People call him a nice guy. It feels like there is no justice in the world.
That story is here: http://tapati.livejournal.com/550153.html
Some of the coverage I have appreciated following Dylan's open letter:
http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/an-open-letter-from-dylan-farrow/ Her open letter
http://www.shakesville.com/2014/02/dylan-farrow-rape-apologia-rape-culture.html
http://quadcitypat.blogspot.com/2014/02/an-investigative-look-at-woody-allen.html?spref=tw
http://www.thenation.com/blog/178203/choosing-comfort-over-truth-what-it-means-defend-woody-allen
http://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/archive/1992/11/farrow199211 Back when Dylan first reported her abuse, a long story appeared in Vanity Fair.
http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20066950,00.html for this quote: He goes on: "I'm open-minded about sex. I'm not above reproach; if anything, I'm below reproach. I mean, if I was caught in a love nest with 15 12-year-old girls tomorrow, people would think, yeah, I always knew that about him." Allen pauses. "Nothing I could come up with would surprise anyone," he ventures helplessly. "I admit to it all."