What is Grooming (everything you need to know)

Grooming is a term many people are unfamiliar with, and it's important to know how to protect yourself and those you love from experiencing it. Grooming occurs when a predator selects a person they view as vulnerable and gains their trust to abuse them. Grooming has multiple steps that predators utilize to abuse people, I hope this newsletter can inform you on this topic and what signs to look for to ensure the safety of yourself and those you care for.

1. Selecting a vulnerable person
   1. Predators look for what many call "an easy target," which often is someone shy, petite, and impressionable.
2. Gaining access to the person
   1. Using a relationship with a family member or friend to reach their intended target.
3. Isolating the person
   1. Creating one-on-one time or stating, "no one will understand, but I do." Establishing shame for the victim and causing the victim to isolate as a coping mechanism.
4. Desensitizing the person to sexual content and physical contact
   1. Slowly introducing pornography or sexual touching that increases in vulgarity each time.
5. Post-abuse maintenance
   1. "It's our little secret," and gift giving.

Grooming occurs extremely often, and unfortunately, many victims of abuse are groomed before their abuse occurs without even realizing it.

Grooming is often viewed as the tactic that leads to child sexual abuse, but grooming doesn't just happen to children. Grooming can happen to adults and is often sexual abuse, but can also be emotional abuse, mental abuse, cultural abuse, or financial abuse.

Types of grooming:

1. Peer-to-peer exploitation (someone the same age)
2. Befriending (friending to gain access)
3. The boyfriend or pimp model (creating a romantic relationship to abuse)
4. The party model (when a party is thrown with the intention of abusing an individual or multiple individuals)

There are also many other types.

I experienced grooming when I was a child, but during that time, I was unaware and uneducated about what grooming is and how it happens. I didn't recognize I was groomed until I was an adult. I've written this newsletter to create awareness to ensure others are aware of terminology that I was not until I fell victim to it.

On a lighter note:

I can't believe I'm finally done with my schooling journey! I'm beyond grateful for the opportunity that my Master's in Social Work will give me. The next stage of my life will be filled with travel, finding myself as a single woman in my early 20s, and living life to the fullest. Please sign up to receive my monthly newsletter straight to your email!

Coming up, I will have more time to fulfill some long-term dreams through advocacy, travel, and content creation. I can't wait to bring you all along for my journey and make this world a better place!

Here's my most recent video sharing my thoughts post-graduation and some exciting news! I'm so thrilled and grateful for what lies ahead! Thank you all for following along on my journey.