DR MIRIAM: SISTER'S A BULLY.Byline: MIRIAM STOPPARD DEAR MIRIAM, I'M 15 and my elder sister drives me mad. I hate her. She's always right and is the queen of put-downs. She sneers at my achievements, like when I won a school prize for poetry. One reason I let her get away with it is because she used to abuse me sexually when we were younger. I feel ashamed and inadequate. How can I stand up to her? RESEARCHERS have estimated sibling incest incest, sexual relations between persons to whom marriage is prohibited by custom or law because of their close kinship. Ideas of kinship, however, vary widely from group to group, hence the definition of incest also varies. to be much more common than parent-child incest. Nonetheless, sibling sexual abuse is a misuse of power and authority. Older children who sexually abuse younger brothers and sisters often abuse them in other ways as well. Persistent putting down, teasing or belittling be·lit·tle tr.v. be·lit·tled, be·lit·tling, be·lit·tles 1. To represent or speak of as contemptibly small or unimportant; disparage: a person who belittled our efforts to do the job right. younger children about their size, gender or other personal characteristics is called emotional abuse. Because you live together, it's understandable you feel pressured and trapped but it doesn't have to be this way. You could tell your parents or someone else you trust or you can call ChildLine's 24-hour free helpline helpline Noun a telephone line set aside for callers to contact an organization for help with a problem helpline n → teléfono de asistencia al público on 0800-1111. ChildLine's counsellors are there to help you find ways to sort things out. |
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