Awful Normal Documentary Summary

Awful Normal is a documentary that follows the journey of Celesta and Karen Davis through their journey of facing their sexual abuse that occurred in 1978 and conquering their biggest challenge to confront their perpetrator with the big question, “Why?” As children, Celesta and Karen informed their parents of what had occurred. The parents failed to take effective action and instead thought turning in the perpetrator themselves, a family friend, and sentencing him to counseling would make a difference. This only kept the perpetrator around Celesta and Karen leading them to create not-so-normal memories with their perpetrator, his wife and children. They would attend parties, family gathering and dinners with their perpetrator as if nothing

had occurred or better said as if it was ‘normal.’ Throughout the documentary, Celesta and Karen disclose how their childhood memories impacted how they feel about themselves, their parents, their perpetrator and his family.
Have they moved on or continue to hold on?
In the documentary, you see some elements that Celesta and Karen have moved on from their abuse.

Both women show some level of rationality while doing something that many people would consider irrational or a waste of time but to them it was closure after 25 years. They have not let the abuse define who they are, although it’s a huge part of their lives. How casually they are able to talk about the abuse to their perpetrator’s ex-wife and children, show how they have come to accept what occurred and want to move on completely. The determination to face their perpetrator has to be the primary element that shows they are ready to move on completely and close the

chapter.
On the other hand, they continue to hold onto their abuse such as how Celesta continued to believe she had a special bond with her perpetrator, him apologizing put her in an internal struggle to either forgive him or hold onto resentment. She even made a “friendship” with him after confronting him, she has not let go of this ‘special bond’ she feels towards him. As to Karen, she was over the situation and her perpetrator, when their prepertator apologized it did not change that she resented him and could never be anything with him.
Exposure to Other Abuse
Throughout the documentary, Celesta and Karen disclose their past which leads me to believe that they may have also been abused by their father. As much as a parent wants to be open about sexuality with a child there are limits. Their father having his daughters pleasure him as a child and showering with him was not appropriate. The process that both women went through is called grooming, where their perpetrators tried out different behaviors to measure their comfort level (Crosson-Tower, 2010). As well, to keep their perpetrator, even after knowing about the abuse, around is absurd and not fulfilling to protect your child. A parent’s role is to protect their child from all harm, even if it’s from a close friend or family member.
Children have the right to being loved, care for, and speaking up when something doesn’t feel “right or normal.” As to parents and caregivers, they are to create a safe and open environment for children to communicate with their parents or caregivers. Children look up to their parents or caregivers especially during their development. These family responsibilities are important because when something like external, a stranger, or internal, another family member, maltreatment and/or abuse, occurs children should feel comfortable going to a parent or caregiver to tell them what has occurred to them. In return, the child feels that their caregiver will protect them from those maltreating or abusing them. Internalizing issues like these can cause more damage to the children emotionally, psychologically, etc. They can begin to believe that it’s their fault about what occurred to them. In the case of Celesta and Karen, their abuse became part of ordinary life starting from their father.
Inner Struggles
Celesta and Karen struggle with relationships and continue to fight within themselves to trust anyone, especially men.

Men who were close to them, betrayed them, their father who showed no concern and the man who they thought to be a close family friend molested them. As adults, intimacy may be hard to encounter and be comfortable with. Sexual abuse may cause sexual dysfunction and mistrust of sexual involvement (Crosson-Tower, 2010) so the women avoid relationships that lead to sex. In the film, neither does Celesta or Karen mention any partners or potential love interests. They don’t feel able to trust but are not adequate to judge who is trustworthy. The betrayal by their perpetrator and parents who lacked protecting them, created a variation of anger, depression and grief for the women at some point of their lives. As the women discussed their father, they felt great resentment towards him for choosing is friend over

them.
Conclusion
Awful Normal was a great documentary demonstrating how childhood abuse can carry over into adulthood impacting relationships and self-esteem. Closure is different for everyone; both Celesta and Karen approached the same traumatic event differently. Karen experienced betrayal that would not let her accept an apology. Effects from sexual abuse have caused many inner struggles for each woman, especially not being able to express all their emotions as children. Only because the family did not discuss what had occurred does not mean it never occurred. It took 25 years to finally gain closure which was different for both sisters. The documentary did a great job in capturing the stages the women had gone through and to see them face their perpetrator was so inspirational.