The secret suffering of sexual abuse: From private experience to collective memory

Abstract

By understanding pathos as suffering, this contribution explores the possibility for the intrinsically secret suffering of sexual abuse to be shared and communicated to foster healing and promote safer common spaces. Referring to Herman’s reflections on trauma in dialogue with philosophical reflections on the social and political impact of shared emotions (Nussbaum; Lara), this article shows concrete cases of aesthetic practices that can give voice to the voiceless suffering of abuse.