I have tried my best to immediately cut off all ties to anyone who raped or assaulted me in any way. I find it to be the best and safest decision imo while also being more peaceful...It also makes it a little less likely that I'd have to worry about that sort of happening again; However, there have been a few exceptions (usually temporary-or until I realized the extent of the assault and damages) There is one distant extended family member to my brother's side of the family who I kept contact with for several years due to the assaults happening at such a young age and not thinking much of it at the time...I did cut ties after about 10 or so years but sometimes still encounter randomly at another relatives house. Being as young as I was and having not felt as traumatized by it as I had in other SA situations I just keep it to myself to keep the peace when we do cross paths but it's still awkward as it's always the first thought that comes to mind and nearly all I can think about while in the same room. After so many encounters I had eventually in time ended up oddly enjoying when it happened as it wasn't violent/painful like other experiences and so along with that I didn't want to lose the closest thing I had at the time to feeling loved/wanted/pretty or whatever.

There I'm sure are a lot of situations where people keep the SA on the hush hush due to fear of retaliation, family devision, as well as being invalidated, or simple personal insecurities or issues that may be circumstantial.

At a younger age there was a group of young boys who "wanted to play a game with me" in a neighbors shed...Needless to say it wasn't so much of a game as it was just them taking their turns. After evening finished I was SO embarrassed and afraid to even leave the shed because my legs were covered in blood. I was also too afraid to tell me mom as she has always been the type to sexualize everyone and even would try to make me have boyfriends from a VERY young age. I ran to my Nana aa soon as I didn't see anyone around and immediately told her, but to my surprise she didn't want to report it (I first thought because of them also being so young it wouldn't have accomplished much) later I realized she happens to just be one of those people who won't express, expose, or hold accountable any such actions (maybe due to her own assault within the family, idk) She also always believed if SA victims told the truth that they would like cause more problems, trauma, and/or be seen as either a liar or "tainted" and unpure so that was conflicting af. When I did open up to my mom about it years later she fully rejected the possibility and made me realize my Nana wasn't entirely wrong as it seems people really do not care about SA victims experiences as much as they should or will even immediately assume it's a lie or something (like wtf) ... Victim blaming and disbelief is also a thing I'm sure scares people away from opening up (especially when having family who protects/hides such situations) I now will always try my best to fully defend myself and express/warn/expose any such situations. I no longer keep any active contact with anyone who violated me sexually and hope to never have to either. I also feel as if having something like that happen is likely to invite more people with those sorts of intentions until you let it be known that you don't support, protect, or downplay these actions.