Groomed
Powerful docu analyzes behavior of those who prey on kids.
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Groomed
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Groomed is a documentary about one woman's attempt to understand how children are groomed by sexual predators in order to make sense of the sexual abuse she endured as a girl. Interviews with abuse survivors (and an abuser) offer disturbing details that may be difficult for some viewers to listen to. There's also some strong sexual content, which is introduced to highlight predatory behavior, as well as some strong language, including "ass" and "dammit" -- stronger curses are bleeped. There is also occasional smoking and wine drinking. While Groomed is in part a personal story, it's also offered within an informative context.
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What's the Story?
GROOMED is a documentary about a young filmmaker who wants to have a better understanding of how pedophiles succeed at manipulating children in order to come to terms with her own history of sexual abuse. Dutch filmmaker Gwen de Pas was abused by an assistant swim coach starting at the age of 12, but only after he spent about a year befriending her -- and eventually, her family -- to gain their trust. Now an adult living in San Francisco, de Pas is still struggling to cope with the trauma she experienced. As part of her recovery, she decides to learn more about the grooming process that predators rely upon to get away with their crimes.
Interviews with other sexual abuse survivors, medical experts, and an offender who serves as a "proxy" (a stand in for those who are afraid to face their own abusers, but are seeking answers and closure), reveal the systematic method by which children are targeted and abused. She also travels back to the Netherlands to talk to her family, some members of which were not aware of what happened, and to find out more about her abuser. As she re-examines her own lived experience, she learns more about the long-term affects of grooming, especially when deciding on whether or not to press charges against him. It's a very difficult and confusing journey, but one that brings de Pas closer to her own healing.
Is It Any Good?
This poignant and powerful documentary offers a thorough discussion of what grooming behavior is and its long-term impact on survivors of childhood sexual abuse. It discusses the manipulative process by which at least 80% of pedophiles use to claim their victims, such as targeting quiet, more introverted children, and establishing a strong connection with their families so that they trust the offenders before the relationships become sexualized. It also reveals how an abuser who has skillfully groomed a child can maintain control over the relationship, and keep it from being revealed, even after the abuse has ended and the kid becomes an adult.
It's informative, but Groomed offers its fair share of difficult moments as survivors of childhood sexual abuse offer first-hand accounts of their horrific experiences. There are also some extremely emotional moments, too, as Gwen de Pas and her family acknowledge what she was subjected to and how it has affected her. But the raw feelings de Pas and others express -- and the sense of vulnerability she communicates throughout the film -- underscores the pain, and potential long-term damage, that childhood sexual abuse causes. Overall, it's a documentary that serves as both a lesson and a warning about the need to protect our children, and what to watch out for in order to do so.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the issues discussed here. How easy is it for a sexual predator to target children? What kinds of things should we be doing to protect them? At what age should adults begin talking to their children about this topic?
Groomed is a documentary that offers important information about how pedophiles operate, and the trauma that children and adults go through as a result. What are some other ways the media can help inform the public about childhood sexual abuse and how to protect kids from it?
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual abuse, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go online to rainn.org.
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 18, 2021
- Cast: Gwen de Pas
- Network: Discovery+
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Communication, Compassion, Courage, Empathy, Perseverance
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: April 11, 2022
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