ECPA 2020 Christian Book Award Finalist!Written by Rachael Denhollander, recipient of Sports Illustrated’s Inspiration of the Year Award and one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People (2018)“Who is going to tell these little girls that what was done to them matters? That they are seen and valued, that they are not alone and they are not unprotected?”Rachael Denhollander’s voice was heard around … unprotected?”Rachael Denhollander’s voice was heard around the world when she spoke out to end the most shocking US gymnastics scandal in history. The first victim to publicly accuse Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics team doctor who sexually abused hundreds of young athletes, Rachael now reveals her full story for the first time. How did Nassar get away with it for so long? How did Rachael and the other survivors finally stop him and bring him to justice? And how can we protect the vulnerable in our own families, churches, and communities?What Is a Girl Worth? is the inspiring true story of Rachael’s journey from an idealistic young gymnast to a strong and determined woman who found the courage to raise her voice against evil, even when she thought the world might not listen. In this crucial cultural moment of #metoo and #churchtoo, this deeply personal and compelling narrative shines a spotlight on the physical and emotional impact of abuse, why so many survivors are reluctant to speak out, what it means to be believed, the extraordinary power of faith and forgiveness, and how we can learn to do what’s right in the moments that matter most.Published by Tyndale, this inspirational, empowering book is available in both hardcover and e-book editions.
more
This enlightening and crucial book about sexual abuse, medical malpractice, and the systems-wide coverups that are complicit in sociopathic human violations was emotionally difficult for me to read.
Rachael Denhollander, (one of Dr. Larry Nassar’s victim’s in his perverse practice of sexually violatng girls and young women under the guise of legitimate medical practice), is gifted in her ability to communicate in a straightforward manner that explains her experience; in doing so she educates and validates sexual abuse victims and illucidates how the mob of colluders makes possible and worsens the suffering of such abuse.
Rachael paints a clear picture of victim blame, which is misplaced, slanderous, and calculated to discredit abuse survivors who speak out.
From Wikipedia: “Lawrence Gerard Nassar… is a former USA Gymnastics national team doctor, former osteopathic physician and professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, and convicted rapist. Nassar’s cumulative sexual assault crimes were the basis of the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal that began in 2015, in which he was accused of assaulting at least 250 young women and girls dating back to 1992. His victims included numerous Olympic and United States women’s national gymnastics team gymnasts and he has admitted to 10 of those accusations.”
Also from Wikipedia: “Rachael Joy Denhollander… is an American lawyer and former gymnast. She was the first woman to publicly accuse Larry Nassar, the former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor, of sexual assault. Denhollander is 2018 Glamour Woman of the Year and was included in Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2018.”
Here are some quotes I wrote down while reading:
“As sexual survivors will tell you, saying something is one thing. Being heard – and believed – is another.”
“When abusers feel protected and empowered, they tend to escalate their visibility and abuse.”
“It’s a common assumption that if you are abused, it’s because you did something wrong.”
Rachael had also been sexually abused at her church when she was seven, years before she met Larry Nassar. Nassar’s defense, of course, tried to use this against her. “Larry’s attorneys argued that I was deeply psychologically troubled because of prior abuse and that I had projected that onto Larry.”
She said this about abuse in the church, “All the abusers attributed the mishandling of their cases to the Church’s theology. They alledged dynamics like an excessive view of pastoral authority; a refusal to engage with secular authorities or abuse authorities outside the church; teachings concepts like unity, forgiveness, and grace that resulted is abusers being ‘forgiven’ while victims were silenced and characterized as bitter.”
It’s this way across the board, abusers and their legal teams revert to the fall back position, which gaslights and blames victims. Ever the educator, Rachael spells out how DARVO works. Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender. Make the perpetrators out to be the ones picked on and harassed. They build their defense on “allegations” versus “untarnished truth.”
At one point, Rachael was told that the statute of limitations had passed for her case against Nassar even though other victims were speaking out. Then, her team learned a new law extended the time constraints, therefore the crimes Nassar committed against her could be prosecuted because the old time period had not expired when the new law was passed. Her lawyer told her, “It’s going to be a long shot. These cases are difficult enough to prosecute as it is, and the process is going to be very difficult on you. But if it were me… I would give it a shot. I would try.”
Rachael expressed much justified anger at the complicit institutions, USA Gymnastics, University of Michigan, and more that were aware years before she became a victim of Nassar’s that he was abusing girls. She explains, “They knew before I even walked in the door… The institutions that had kept Larry in power showed no signs of being the least bit motivated to examine how a prolific pedophile had flourished on their campus and in their organizations for decades… Larry could have and should have been stopped, but no one did the right thing. No one even asked the right questions. Everyone assumed these women were confused. Too uneducated to know what real medical treatment was. Their judgement wasn’t trusted. Not even enough to ask a question.”
I found her use of this famous quote powerful in this context, “You may choose to look the other way but you can never again say you did not know,” ~ Abolitionist William Wilberforce
As she bravely and markedly continues to guide the reader through the entire physical, emotional, legal, financial, and social experience of being abused and then speaking and writing about it, she makes certain that those of us witnessing understand, “Doing this publicly… has greatly compounded the effects of sexual assault. It is not a move someone takes because they want healing…. This is not me finding my voice. This is me trying to protect the women I couldn’t protect for sixteen years.”
More quotes I wrote down:
“I wanted to see someone else fightng abuse. To feel less alone and isolated in the fight.”
“The court system didn’t seem to care and abuse victims were made to bear the cost. The defense was asked to make decisions, but the abusers are shamed and have to struggle through their testimony.”
Coming forward after abuse of any kind, (sexual, domestic, medical, emotional), the victims find themselves in a system and world that is antagonistic to them. So, “WHY DON’T VICTIMS REPORT? Because most of the time the only thing reporting accomplishes is heightening the trauma to almost unbearable levels. It invites an audience to view your assault. It’s choosing to have no voice in the process after it is stolen from you. That’s why victims don’t report.”
Rachael repeatedly let’s us know that she has supportive parents, siblings, spouse, and had a strong legal team. She wonders for all of us how difficult to impossible coming forward as an abuse victim is when one does not have these supports.
She goes on to lay out the foundation in which this type of abuse occurs at the hands of doctors: “In a position authority as a doctor, they coerce people to believe that procedures are safe and common, not scams.”
In this book I consider essential reading, Rachael Denhollander provides a solid understanding of the culture of sexual abuse and why women are afraid to speak up. She elucidates victim experiences and retraumatization, particularly as it relates to court proceedings. “What is a Girl Worth?” is an uncomfortable, but necessary view into abuse that was typical in many ways, with ‘grooming of not only the victim but the community, marking the struggle to identify the abuse for what it was given the lack of response from well-meaning authority figures, and the devastating shame and self-doubt that come with any attempt to heal.’
Denhollander’s abuse was also atypical in some significant ways. As she stated, her family was loving and supportive, her mother didn’t pass off her mood changes as being a teenager but recognized something was wrong, her abuser was famous, she had the law background to put together a strong case, and she had incredible advocates who partnered with her to bring about justice. Many abuse survivors don’t have these resources and are significantly hindered in their ability to heal, which greatly hinders them in seeking justice.
One of her mantras is: “The more you love, the harder you fight.” I relate to this. One becomes an advocate for safety and against abuse to protect others from harm. Being a victim of medical abuse myself, I relate to this whole book, devestatingly so. I did not have the support Rachael does, and as I’m secular in my views, therefore I did not relate to her religious slant. I respect and understand that she wrote of her unique experience and the process she went through in questioning what she was taught about faith and forgiveness; I did so in my own way given my experiences and beliefs in life, as do most of the hundreds of victims I know.
In summation: this book is an extraordinary testimony from Rachael Denhollander that will guide, validate, and educate those who have suffered sexual (or other types of assault), or gone through the court system for it, and it will help others understand the dynamics that keep many survivors from reporting their abuse. It also gives insight as to how doctors get away with scams and abuse and are insularly protected.
Thank you, Rachael.
“What is a little girl worth?”
Rachel Denhollander took the right path, the hard path, the misunderstood path . . . paving the way towards justice for the hundreds of little girls, including herself, who had endured the abusive touches of Dr. Larry Nassar, a highly esteemed USA Gymnastics team doctor, operating his medical practice on the campus of Michigan State University. Rachel, her family, and her legal team spent hours, days, and months of endless documentation and evidence retrieval; attempting to do what no one else had accomplished; giving voice to Nassar’s victims in a court of law.
Her journey, including its many ups and downs, is the story of courage and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds and the constant possibility of defeat; having to publicly verbalize many private details while answering many invasive questions. In the end, “everything is what these children are worth” and truth prevailed.
“There are two major purposes in our criminal justice system . . . the pursuit of justice and the protection of the innocent . . . . “
I heard about the Larry Nassar case on the news a little over a year ago, and couldn’t believe all the accusations. It seemed unreal. So, when I was given the chance to read this book, I jumped on it, and I’m so glad I did. Rachael’s words brought light into a hard situation, and courageously told her story of abuse and all she had to overcome when she chose to report and the investigation that ensued. This is a book that many women should read especially since we easily trust those in authoritative positions due to their education and role in our lives. This book brought to light the importance of speaking up when you don’t think things are quite right, and trusting your gut even if others are telling you it can’t be so.
I received an ARC of this book, but this review is of my own opinions.
As I read through this book, I felt the pain of a person that survived sexual abuse in a way like no other book has touched me. This book is not filled with graphic descriptions of abuse. It is not about a story of someone you struggle to relate to.
This is the story of a little girl that grew to be a woman, and led an army to challenge an abuser. In doing so, so gave hope to millions of people, I would say. She gave hope that while there are so many people that will hear a story of abuse, attack it, reject it or downplay what happened to you, it is worth speaking out. The pain is worth it if it saves one other little girl. How much is a little girl worth? She is worth everything.
The quote from one of the women that testified in court was stated in this book, and it stuck with me. “Perhaps you have figured it out by now. Little girls don’t stay little forever. They grow into strong women that return to destroy your world.”
This woman writing the story enabled many, many women to testify against their abuser. I believe this story will continue to inspire many more to speak out against abuse in every way. We are not seeking revenge, but justice and safety for every child.
Some readers might be afraid that if they read this book, they may be triggered by the topic. I would say that the triggers you will have from this book might be hard, but worth it in the end as I believe they will empower you. They will show you that sometimes people that are victimized, get justice. It is worth it in the hard times to push through, even when it seems like no one is listening. In the end, even if one person, namely, yourself, knows you are of value, it is worth it.
I obtained this book from the publisher. All the opinions and thoughts contained herein are my own.
The world has been transfixed on Rachael Denhollander since she stepped forward in the courtroom and shared her bravery by confronting her abuser, former MSU physician Larry Nassar.
While this memoir is difficult, Denhollander leaves the reader with hope and the knowledge that when we know what’s right, we must stand up against that which is wrong. Her story is so much more than the sum of its parts, and “What Is A Girl Worth?” deftly weaves the history of Rachael’s early life and passion for gymnastics, her abuse while seeking treatment from Nassar for back and wrist injuries and the long term effects the abuse had on her.
This is not an easy book to read, but it is one that uncovers a long list of injustices that continued (some of which continue even today) to occur within the gymnastics community, even after Nassar was reported multiple times, over multiple years, by multiple victims. Instead of continuing to stay hidden, once Denhollander found out there were additional victims of Nassar, she chose to stand and fight against the system to give them all a voice. She became the public face of the victims, even at a great cost to her personally.
Denhollander’s personal recollections of how she dealt with the abuse perpetrated against her and the realization that she had to become the voice and the face for many who might never receive justice–unless she spoke out– is heartbreaking, but empowering at the same time. She stood in a spotlight that no one wanted to be in, faced her abuser in court and assured other victims had a chance to share their stories, and for that, she deserves the admiration of any woman who has experienced sexual violence. Even those who have been fortunate enough not to experience abuse should read “What Is A Girl Worth?” to educate themselves and be encouraged to be the voice for those who cannot speak up for themselves.
The relationship between Denhollander and her husband, Jacob, is one that models the patient love spoken of in Scripture and reminds the reader that those who love us best are willing to walk alongside us, no matter the cost. Survivors of sexual assault or abuse often struggle with close relationships, yet Jacob and Rachael have chosen to walk together, raise a family and fight together whatever dragons they may face. It is a wonderful reminder that even in the midst of great struggle, there are diamonds strewn along the path.
Denhollander discusses the worth of a woman throughout the book and reminds the reader that sexual violence seeks to demean and degrade at the most base of levels. However, being strong sometimes means we stand when we may not feel powerful, knowing that our sacrifice means someone else may live freely and without shame.
Although there could be triggers for those who have experienced sexual assault or sexual violence, “What Is A Girl Worth?” is a book that needs to be read. Prepare your heart, educate yourself on the facts and share this book with someone in your life who could use its message. I know my heart was touched, yet the book reminded me how far we’ve got to go to make sure survivors are believed, supported and receive justice. Odds are, you will also be angry at the handling of this situation, but I pray that anger spurs readers on to action. Volunteer, advocate and educate. Don’t let this issue continue to be one that leaves broken souls in its wake.
The book is also a rally cry for churches to support survivors fairly and completely, but sadly, also highlights the failures within the body of Christ to properly do so. Losing her church home in the midst of the fallout from the exposure of the abuse at Nassar’s hands was an insult to injury, and her perspective shares with those in the faith community how important it is to listen and appropriately respond to survivors needs, not push them away or shame them.
I read an early copy to review, thanks to Tyndale House Publishers. All opinions are my own and I chose to review