Rachael DenhollanderRezensionen

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.

Audrey might only be three months old but she is never too young to have words of affirmation read to her. Words about how much she is valued. As a woman. As a child of God. As an individual with rights.

Written by Rachael Denhollander (the "whistleblower" of the Larry Nassar/USA Gymnastics scandal), "How Much is a Little Girl Worth" subtly speaks to abuses and how girls are worth so much more than that. Their voice is so much more. They are priceless.

It might be a picture book but I found this book worthwhile even for me.

I adore gymnastics. I never did it as a child, but one of my most vivid memories is of watching the 1996 Olympics. You know the one, where Kerri Strug landed that amazing fault and the Magnificent Seven captured team GOLD! Carly Patterson. Shawn Johnson. Simone Biles. Aly Raisman. These are names I remember so well.

And like everyone, I was DEVASTATED by the whole gymnastics sex abuse scandal and Larry Nassar. But it was a story that had to come out. And I'm glad it came out. So many people were victims.

I had never heard of Rachael Denhollander until recently. But then I did remember that her voice was the first voice. The first voice who spoke out and said "This is What Happened to Me." This story is about her, her story, and all of the pain that arose.....and the healing that comes.

Rachael's story is very sad. And what's really sad is the judgment and lack of belief she received from her church and the homeschooling community.. (Side bar, her reaction to Vision Forum's "The Return of the Daughters" is exactly the one I hold now. How sad it is that people still by into the philosophy that if a daughter has a mind of her own, she is bound to be raped or walk away from Christ.) It is sad how prevalent abuse is in the Christian community as well.....and a blind eye is turned to it.

Rachael is very honest and open about her faith. That is truly what sustains her many times. But she is also open about how a girl is worth infinitely more than how society can treat people. And we have to stand up.

Mentioned in a blog post at https://booksbeyondbinaries.blog/2019/10/28/villainathon-wrap-up/

This is an incredibly important book.

It is not the most skillfully written of books, true. In fact it reads more like a conversation or a deposition.
But I think that honestly illustrates both the soul of the author and the necessity of the book being written.

Rachael didn't set out to write a book and become famous, she wrote it to ask a vital question and to warn others about how evil spreads.

This book made me cry, it made me smile, it made me want to say "never again".

It was very hard to read emotionally, but if you work with children or in any industry that may have to deal with abuse, read this and learn.

I wish this book could be gifted to every girl as they enter preschool, then again as they walk into junior high, and once more when they graduate high school. The message in this colorful, whimsically-illustrated children's book is deep and meaningful to every female on the planet. Some young mothers, grandmothers, sisters and aunts will cry their way through this as they read to the little ones in their life, because no one ever told them (the adults) the truths found here.

Dads, let your daughters hear your voice read these words over them. You will be amazed at the strength that will build in their souls.

Wow. Looks like I have a few extra copies to buy for my own daughter and nieces...

In this riveting memoir, the young lady who led the charge against renowned sports doctor Larry Nassar tells her story. And she tells it with poise, vulnerability, and courage. She explains in painful detail how a teenager could be sexually molested by her doctor in front of her mother... and neither realized what was happening. Her experience reveals why so many children don't report sexual abuse, how a person's power/authority/prestige/position cause people to think "it must be ok if HE does it." Tracing her own experiences, thought life, and emotions after Nassar's abuse, Denhollander reveals the process by which she reported it, allowed investigators to interview her, and how becoming the public face of his many accusers affected her. Why go through that painful process? Why was she willing to share her deepest secrets with the world in order to convict Nassar?

Justice. Above all, do what is right. Denhollander, and her husband, Jacob, relied on their faith in the God of justice and have been willing to empty themselves out for what is right. By sharing her story, going public against her abuser, and fighting for other gymnasts by continuing to push for reform at Michigan State, Denhollander shows that she's a victim no more. Rather, in her husband's words, she's the hero. She continues to battle to make her world a place of truth and righteousness, where no young girl will be in danger of abuse at the hands of powerful men who won't be held accountable.

I have to admit that I didn't pay any attention to the Nassar story at the time except to be glad that another sexual predator had been caught and to slightly wonder how a doctor would go about sexually abusing patients. The most important thing about Rachael Denhollander, and what almost stopped me from reading the book, is that she is very, very, very christian. You know, the homeschooled, small church kind of christian, and she pretty much shills for her religion throughout the book. But, in spite of her religion, or she would say because of it, her parents managed to raise a highly ambitious, intellectually, and physically accomplished woman who is determined to stand up for her rights and the rights of others. As a twelve-year-old, she started training in gymnastics only after her mother cautioned her that the sport can be damaging to young girls - pushing them beyond their endurance and promoting an unhealthy body image. She trained obsessively, as she does everything obsessively, and she injured herself in several ways, particularly her back and wrists. After going to doctors who didn't listen to her (that's a particular emphasis in the book - professionals who do and do not listen to the public) she found she could go to the famous Dr. Larry Nassar (whom she determinedly calls Larry throughout the book, you have to love that). He listened to her, he paid attention to her specific injuries, and gave her hope that he could treat them. He also, from the very first visit and with her mother right there in the room, slid his thumb and fingers inside her vagina while doing a pelvic adjustment. She and her mother had discussed the fact that some doctors do internal pelvic adjustments, but her mother thought that if it was determined that Rachel needed such treatment, they'd go to a female therapist. He never told them he was doing such a treatment, he never asked for consent, and he never wore gloves. This apparently is what he did to all his young, never been touched gymnasts and he was such an excellent doctor, with such a good reputation, that he got away with it for decades. Finally, years later when Rachel had become a lawyer she read a news story about girl-women gymnasts who were exposing the abuse they had suffered at the hands of coaches, and she emailed the man writing the articles to tell him that the famous doctor had sexually abused her and that she was willing to cooperate in any way, including the use of her name, to stop him. The rest of the book, much like Know My Name: A Memoir by Chanel Miller, describes the excruciating process of bringing a rapist to justice. I bought this book for my evangelical sister because I know she will appreciate the strong emphasis on religion, and I hope she'll accept Denhollander's statement that we have to root out rape culture wherever it is found: in sports, politics, or churches - even when exhibited by people we know and respect. It was pertinent that the slimy long-term after-effects of this doctor were highlighted in Simone Biles' breakdown at the Tokyo Olympics and also in recent articles that he is spending thousands of dollars on himself in prison while he sends about $3 a month to the mandated victim fund.

Rachael Denhollander demonstrates why sexual abuse is underreported through her own experience in the face of a predator. It only takes a single violation of trust to begin living a life of fear. A reaction to abuse that is not commonly understood is freezing like a deer in the headlights. Danger is approaching but there is shock of what to do. Denhollander's account adds to this perspective factored with power imbalance. Nassar got away with many girls for many years due to his trusted medical expertise and personable charm. However brave people including Denhollander started to fight back creating a domino effect against him.

This read was chilling with how normal her life was. Denhollander was your girl next door with a Christian loving family and later in life having an amazingly supportive spouse. As she points out, this comes from a place of privilege where she took the opportunity to defend other victims. She does this by exposing the ripple effects of her sexual assault in courtrooms and media. American culture is shifting its approach towards sexual abuse in a positive way but it still has a long way to go. This book is a contribution that will help shift cultural awareness on this topic.

This message is beautifully written to open conversation with your young girls. I actually read it with both my son and daughters and changed the words to add boy because this message is needed for both. Rachael has extended her message of empowerment by writing this book for young ones. Give them the power to know their worth and importance. After following the trial and podcasts and learning more about all that Rachael and her fellow athletes went through; a book like this is what we need. The conversation needs to ge delicately started with children and then expanded on and here is the reference you will need.

This book! The truth is excruciating. But Rachael's voice is strong and brave and I respect her so much for what she endured and is now speaking out against and what she is working to stop. This book is not an easy read, but she has written it well and it is a book that coaches, teachers, athletes, and parents should read. Oh wait - everyone should it. I can't shove this book out into public more or vocalize how important this message is. I received an advanced copy from the publisher and these are my honest thoughts. Now that Rachael has voiced the truth - she won't and can't stop. Support her- hee message, read this book and continue her message by choosing to be a voice!

This book is a lovely, inclusive book that encourages girls to remember their worth, no matter what the world tells them. Author Rachael Denhollander uses beautiful illustrations from Morgan Huff to bring to life the message that all ladies, young or old, need to hear.

I appreciated the fact that girls of all shapes, sizes, colors and abilities were featured in this beautiful book. I don't usually get to have books geared towards girls in my house, but I have a list of friends who I plan on gifting a copy of this book to. It is simply a truthful, uplifting book that will be a great reminder over the years.

If you have a niece, friend, daughter or granddaughter, this is one to buy them. I would also think this could be used as a sweet treasure for a college student before she leaves for school, graduation gift. It lends itself to be read aloud to a group or shared at bedtime. The lessons therein are important for any woman to remember.

I was an early reader, thanks to the author and Tyndale House Publishers. All opinions are my own and I chose to leave a review.

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.