General literature and children’s literature contribute to and echo society’s broad awareness of incest and sexual violence. They already constitute a valuable support for starting a conversation with children and getting them to talk about it if they are victims.
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Literature, to make childhood professionals understand “what the victims felt”, explains Henriette Zoughebi, who produced for the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence Against Children (Ciivise) a collection of literary works to fight against denial. It accompanies the report of the Ciivise, which made 82 recommendations after collecting the testimony of victims for three years.
“What allows men to see reality is first and foremost literature.” said Judge Edouard Durand, co-president of Ciivise, speaking during a speech at the Youth Book and Press Fair, which ended on December 4 in Montreuil, in the Paris region. To hear the voices of victims of sexual violence, we need a “a clear doctrine”summed up in three words – “We believe you” – who, according to him, “begins with an existential ambition: to see reality”.
“Literature makes you think because it first makes you feel”
Henriette Zoughebiat the Book and Youth Press Fair
It allows both “to feel, to put at a distance and this helps to understand, that is to say ‘take it with you’, says one of the founders of the Montreuil Book and Youth Press Fair which she directed for several years. The collection of the Ciivise, producedith the Idéokilogram association, is aimed at child professionals and adults in general, who must be trained to help child victims whose speech is too often denied: “92%” de those who make revelations are neither believed nor protected, indicates judge Edouard Durand. The author Sandrine Beau has written several children’s books on sexual violence, including The bathroom door (Editions Talents Hauts), after having made this observation. “I realized how lastingly deep the trauma was, especially for the victims who had never been heard.”
Believe and protect victims from childhood
And when they are, Henriette Zoughebi notes that it is necessary “a minimum of training to welcome (her) speak and protect the child”. The work that now remains, from this brochure, is that of “make recommendations in children’s literature”. Leads are already given. “The study of mythology in 6th grade in French and history could be an opportunity to raise awareness of the issues in the fight against sexual violence (in progress) the ability of students to (THE) define and (THE) recognize (as well as) analyze representations critically”, suggests Henriette Zoughebi. Greco-Latin mythology is “a starting point” because it inspired literary works that shaped “our collective imagination”. Deconstruction must therefore begin at the origins of evil. The tales, through which we “gives you a taste for literature” in childhood are another avenue.
In the practice of associations like L’Enfant Bleu, the book has established itself in recent years as an essential prevention and awareness tool. “Children’s literature is at the heart of our work at the association”, underlines Laura Morin, national director of the structure whose mission is to support children and adults who are victims of childhood abuse. Talking about sexual violence suffered is not easy, especially for young people. L’Enfant bleu, which carries out actions in establishments in Ile-de-France and in several regions of the country, has set up storytelling workshops. Which give “the possibility for children aged 3 to 8 to talk about what they have experienced through stories, tales, because sometimes for a child, it is easier to talk about a character, about someone other than him to tell what he experienced.
“A vector for dialogue with the child”
The book also turns out to be “support” for parents to address these delicate issues, “incredible support”“a vector for dialogue with the child”, says Laura Morin. After his visit to the schools, the Blue Child leaves a case of books which will allow the teaching teams to continue the awareness work started.
“General literature helps raise awareness among adults”, summarizes Anne Clerc, general delegate of the association Face à l’inceste, who recalls that the books of Vanessa Springora and Camille Kouchner have made it possible to develop the Billon law on sexual consent. However, she continues, children’s literature has “an additional contribution”that of being “at the height of a child”. The works serve to raise awareness but it is crucial to remember “the framework of the law” and sexual violence is there “severely punished”. Anne Clerc is also convinced that policies “will move” if “minors themselves speak about the sexual violence they suffer”, she pleads. And literature can, once again, be a good mediator.