The Unforgettable and Invisible Truth: A Study of Acquaintance Rape in Yejide Kilanko’s Daughters Who Walk This Path

Abstract

The outstanding contribution of feminism is that it highlighted the issue of women’s mental health instigated by hidden but common abuse of women and children. Yejide Kilanko has presented an incidence of sexual aggression by a violent male figure, which results in severe negative consequences in a fragile girl of fifteen. The invisible truth of unforgettable experience overshadows her being. The disclosure leads to varied reactions from the public—ranging from surprise, pity, disappointment to supportive and compassionate care. The concept of social stigma makes life miserable for the victim who feels sadness and humiliation. However, by inculcating hope within the traumatized individual, profound marks embedded in the psyche of the victim are deciphered, but the violent experience remains alive until the time of the victim’s burial. This study promotes the possibility for alteration in cultural and socio-political ideologies, which sustain trauma and the perpetrators of trauma.