The Enemy Between My Legs - even the title provokes a visceral, knee-jerk emotional reaction from any woman who has personally experienced sexual molestation, or knows of someone who has. With an estimated 1 out of 3 women and 1 out of 5 men experiencing an assault before adulthood, the chances are likely that you fall into one of these categories; I know that I do.
Author Stephanie Jones is a survivor of numerous sexual assaults spanning the years from ages 5 – 13. She is eminently qualified to write on the subject of child abuse and its effects. Having experienced the chaotic, destructive cycle created by the trauma of her abuse that was only stopped when she turned to God for help; Jones delivers her message with deep compassion and love.
Unlike many, she shoots from the hip and calls things as they are. Most abuse takes place within the family or with those close to the family, the vast majority goes unreported – not only to the authorities but to anyone who could help. She breaks the silence and kicks in the doors to peer into all of the dark, hidden places. It’s only when the light shines into the darkness that the truth will reveal itself and healing can begin and that’s just what Jones achieves in her book.
Her work on sexual abuse is both intimate and comprehensive. While not exploring any topic in depth, she briefly covering all aspects of abuse: her story, signs of abuse, prevention, statistics, consequences, personal sharing from others, the path to healing and resources.
With a heart focused upon female victims of abuse most of her revelations are specific to girls who have been victimized by men – by far the most common form of abuse in our society. However, Jones does not avoid the possibilities of abuse by female perpetrators, recognizes male victims and reaches out to perpetrators with the possibility of hope and forgiveness in the future. Jones after all realizes that the title of her book holds two meanings. The enemy between her legs was flesh and blood, but her true enemy was incorporeal - the enemy of her soul and that of her assaulter.
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