Episode #208 - Sexual Harassment & Trauma with Tiffany Bluhm
Jan 17, 2024
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Tiffany Bluhm, author and speaker, discusses sexual harassment and trauma. She shares her personal experiences, offers insights on bystander intervention, and explores women's experiences in Scripture. The podcast also delves into defining harm and trauma, the dynamics of egalitarian spaces, believing and validating women's experiences, and strategies for creating safe environments.
Bystander intervention involves physically placing oneself between the potential harm and the person being targeted, changing the subject to distract from the harmful situation, and making the safety of the person being targeted a priority, thereby creating a safer environment.
Providing a safe space for someone who has experienced harm or abuse, actively listening without judgment, and offering love, support, and assistance such as accompanying them to meetings or reporting incidents, demonstrates solidarity and care.
Deep dives
Bystander Intervention as a Tool for Change
Bystander intervention is a powerful tool for creating change in situations of harm and harassment. Drawing from the example of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery, bystander intervention involves physically placing oneself between the potential harm and the person being targeted. It also includes changing the subject to distract from the harmful situation, and making the safety of the person being targeted a priority. By being aware of slight imbalances of power and intervening in situations that make others uncomfortable, bystanders can prevent harm from escalating and create a safer environment.
The Importance of Listening and Supporting
When someone comes forward with a story of harm or abuse, it is essential to listen, support, and validate their experience. Lamenting with the person and acknowledging their pain is a crucial first step. Providing a safe space for them to share their story and actively listening without judgment can provide immense strength and comfort. Additionally, offering love and learning by showing up for the person, advocating on their behalf, and providing assistance such as accompanying them to meetings or reporting incidents, demonstrates solidarity and care. Love is also justice, and seeking justice means working towards equality, reparations, and accountability.
Breaking the Silence and Naming the Harm
Naming and acknowledging the different forms of harm and abuse, such as sexual harassment, objectification, and abusive power, is key to addressing and preventing these issues. The availability of language to describe these experiences empowers individuals to identify and confront harmful actions. By having a common understanding of these terms and recognizing their unacceptability, we can work towards building a culture that no longer tolerates such behaviors. This shift is particularly evident among younger generations, with reporting rates of abuse and harassment significantly higher than previous generations, reflecting a growing awareness and determination to address these injustices.
Women Supporting Women
Despite the progress made, there can still be instances where women defend men and uphold patriarchal systems to preserve their positions of power or proximity to power. It is crucial to address the ways in which women are sometimes pitted against each other to keep men comfortable and maintain existing power structures. Encouraging solidarity and supporting one another is vital in dismantling these harmful dynamics and creating an environment where all women can thrive and be valued.
CW: Sexual Harassment, Gender-Based Discrimination
Tiffany Bluhm is an author and speaker who serves at the intersection of justice and faith. In the book we feature her book Prey Tell.
In this episode, she explains how women often experience abuses of power and portions of her story where she experienced sexual harassment and retaliation. She also offers a really helpful approach to bystander intervention and incorporates some powerful conversations about women in Scripture, including the story of David and Bathsheba and the story of the woman (allegedly) caught in adultery.
Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Madison Pierce.
Series Disclaimer: This series explores the concept of “trauma,” its sources, and its expressions from a range of perspectives. Some of our guests are licensed mental health professionals; some are those with formative experiences of trauma; and others are those who explore trauma through various theoretical frameworks. We hope that this series provides useful information to all that enables them to begin to be trauma-informed and to love others and themselves better. Our series is by no means meant to replace the important work of one-on-one time with a trauma-informed professional.