Her mother stayed home to raise five boys and three girls. It happened behind closed doors, frequently in her own home. Whitaker said that she learned too late the difference between appropriate and inappropriate forms of love for a child, a distinction her abusers tried to blur. Boyer, an anthropologist, said that Whitaker fits the profile of teens who were abused prior to pregnancy. For many, the assailant is a family member.
Abuse is chronic.
Victims often don't realize they can say no. While pregnant, Whitaker told a counselor that her mother's uncle had abused her. Authorities were notified and, although no charges were filed, he never again molested her. Whitaker returned to school after Jeffrey was born, rushing home in the afternoon to care for him. She attended a group for early parents, and her own parents were supportive, helping with child care and finances.