Many organizations try to remedy abusive relationships with mediation and conflict resolution. Pam Rubin explains that this approach can do more harm than good: “Conceiving of sexual violence and abuse as a relationship problem does not fit what’s actually going on. What’s going on in terms of male violence is a worldwide phenomenon. Men who choose to use violence often [...]
Watch: Compassion is not a pie chart
In our third video on confronting abuse, Pam Rubin says that having compassion for people who have been abused does not mean demonizing those who have abused them. In fact, it's just the opposite. More on Confronting Abuse of Power: No More Secrets Our Teachers Are Not Gods Confronting Abuse of Power Watch: Pam Rubin talks about confronting abuse in Buddhist [...]
Watch: Blinding ourselves to abuse
Lawyer and women's trauma counsellor Pam Rubin explains that the conditions which foster sexual abuse in any organization have the exact same effect in Buddhist organizations. "One of our blind spots is to recognize that, in spite of holding tremendous wisdom... we're still subject to the ordinary recipes for abuse." More on Confronting Abuse of Power: No More Secrets [...]
Watch: Start confronting abuse by believing victims
Pam Rubin, a women's trauma counsellor and lawyer, explains why we need to start confronting abuse by believing victims. "We don't immediately jump to 'What were you saying, doing, wearing? Are You suffering from mental illness?'" More on Confronting Abuse of Power: No More Secrets Our Teachers Are Not Gods Confronting Abuse of Power Watch: Pam Rubin talks about [...]
Confronting Abuse of Power
Abuse can take different forms: financial, psychological, physical, sexual. Recent headlines have revealed that spiritual communities, including Buddhist ones, are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse by male authority figures. At the same time, all over North America, targets of sexual abuse and institutional betrayal are speaking out with newfound energy, their words and [...]