Welcome to Breaking Down Patriarchy. I'm Amy McPhee Allabest. Patriarchy takes many different forms.

Sometimes men feel the duty to protect women because they perceive women as childlike and angelic.

Sometimes women defend patriarchy because they've been conditioned to see leadership as a male pursuit. Sometimes

researchers unintentionally select male subjects or employers select male employees, not because of

any animus toward women, but simply because of historical precedent and unconscious bias.

But sometimes patriarchy takes a truly malevolent form, where a man uses

his power, not only his physical power, but his social power to exploit and abuse people.

And there is no abuse more malevolent and more harmful than the abuse of children. Today we're going to talk about child

abuse and specifically child sexual abuse. And so I want to start with a content warning that this is

an episode that will be hard to hear. So just so you know what to expect, first we're going to talk

about the prevalence of the problem.

Next, we're going to hear two women's stories, and they'll be sharing the details of their

stories as well as analysis about how and why this happens. And then we'll end with an inspiring

initiative to combat this pervasive problem. So I want to welcome my two incredibly

courageous guests today, Alex Peterson and Bronwyn Pugh for being here today. I am so grateful

for your willingness to be here and share your stories with us, Brownwin and Alex. Thank you, Amy.

Thank you. We're excited to be here. There's no one I'd rather

spend a Saturday afternoon with than my sister, who I don't get to see as much as I would love to.

And a new old friend, Amy, it was nice to meet you recently. And Alex and I have loved

knowing your sister as well.

That's right. Yeah, we're talking with a pair of sisters that know me and my sister. That's right.

And it has been such a joy getting to know you too, Bronwyn. Alex and I have known each other for a long time. I'll just say to Alex, I remember the day I met you, Alex was a roommate of my sister Whitney, and we went over to

...