Speaking out about abuse and dangerous behavior can be one of the most terrifying things someone can do. Survivors often carry a heavy fear of not being believed, of being blamed, or of facing retaliation. As someone who has spoken out about abuse, I understand this feeling. And when the abuser is someone with a lot of power, speaking out becomes understandably more risky and terrifying.
Powerful people or entities often have credibility and influence.
This social power can make it easier for them to silence victims and manipulate public perception, all helping them avoid accountability. The more high-profile they are, the harder it can be for others to believe they’re capable of harmful behavior.
The risk of speaking out then becomes much greater.
When someone speaks out against a powerful person, they are taking a huge risk—especially if they are speaking out alone.
Jeffrey tried to speak out about his boss, who was a major public figure. However, the pushback and retaliation almost ruined Jeffrey’s career and greatly impacted his family’s ability to feel safe in the community. “It wasn’t worth it,” he said in the aftermath.
Our system protects those with power and influence and silences those without.
Unfortunately, we live in a culture that often scrutinizes survivors’ motives more than it does perpetrators’ behavior, especially when the survivor is seen as less than perfect or marginalized in some way1,2.
Harmful people in positions of authority have more power. When victims speak up, the system responds with denial, minimization, and silence.1 This imbalance reinforces cycles of injustice and harm.
Maya reported sexual abuse that she had witnessed firsthand. However, she was met with suspicion and deflection. Rather than investigating the claim, those in power turned the spotlight on her. They questioned her motives, suggesting she had “personal issues” and was simply “trying to cause trouble.”
Worse still, Maya’s own mental health history was weaponized against her; twisted to paint her as unstable and untrustworthy. Rather than being protected for speaking up, she was punished.
Power, left unchallenged, creates systems that protect abusers and punish the people they harm.
Survivors often hesitate to come forward out of fear, but unfortunately, that silence is what allows harmful behavior to continue unchecked. A decision to speak may empower others who’ve had similar experiences to come forward, or at the very least, cause them to think twice about dismissing red flags or suspicions. However, this decision is never easy.
Speaking out about harm is a very personal choice that can only be made by the survivor when they are ready. I always encourage any survivor, whether they are coming forward or choosing not to, to focus on building support to help them heal in the aftermath.
If you need support for domestic abuse, contact the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
To find a therapist near you, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.
