50 International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation ■ Vol. 2, 2021
Lalich, 1997, p. 10).26 He even indicated that
abortions presented opportunities for weight
loss (United States of America v. Raniere,
2019, p. 2636). Raniere’s long-time business
associate and sexual partner, Pam Carfritz,
organized the terminations—as documented
at the clinic that performed them (United
States of America v. Raniere, 2019, pp.
3307–3308).
The aforementioned examples represent just
a sample of Raniere’s rules regarding sex. He
legitimated these and others with ideological
justifications and, at times, with humiliating
bullying. Throughout, he rationalized his
regulatory practices as being essential to the
women’s achieving personal growth (see
Lalich, 1997, pp. 10–11), whilst in reality
they served to bolster Raniere’s power over
them (see Sinnamon, 2017, p. 465).
B. Sex With Raniere As Special
The belief that sexual experiences with the
group’s leader is an honor, or “a special gift,
a way of achieving further growth,” is
indicative of the institution of female
submission (Lalich, 1997, p. 11). Raniere
alleged that, when he was “working with
someone” (a euphemism for having sex with
a woman), he contributed to her personal
growth and could resolve her disintegrations
(United States of America v. Raniere, 2019,
p. 2395–2396). 27 Oxenberg recalls one of
Raniere’s followers telling her that “‘the only
way to true enlightenment is by having sex
with Keith’” (Oxenberg &Stoynoff, 2019,
26 Raniere did, however, have two sons: one each with inner circle
members, Kristen Keeffe and Marianna.
27 According to Raniere, ‘disintegrations’ are a person’s faulty
perceptions of the world due to the failure of adults to evolve beyond
their childhood comprehension of reality. He claimed that
NXIVM’s ‘Rational Inquiry’ method offered the first scientific
means of resolving this problem (Martin, 2003).
28 Daniela’s is a complex story, and I am unable to include her or
other members’ full narratives here. Their histories and experiences
emerged during the trial and the media reported many, but certainly
not all, of the details. In Daniela’s case, Raniere had sexual
p. 96 see also Edmondson, &Gasbarre,
2019, p. 185). Raniere claimed that his semen
had “mystical” properties that caused women
to see a “blue light” after he ejaculated
(United States of America v. Raniere, 2019,
p. 2395). Purportedly, sex with Raniere could
even help women recover from the trauma of
sexual abuse (Oxenberg &Stoynoff, 2019, p.
165). These and other so-called teachings
permeated NXIVM culture, contributing to
Raniere’s ability to groom women into
believing that sex with him was both special
and transformative. Moreover, in terms of a
member’s status, sexual relationships with
Raniere brought women into his elite inner
circle (United States of America v. Raniere,
2019, p. 2400).
Former member Daniela28 explained in her
court testimony that she went from being a
dedicated high-school student in Mexico—
with acceptance into a prestigious university
in Switzerland—to becoming a member of
NXIVM who, at Raniere’s behest, would
eventually be isolated in a bedroom for 2
years (United States of America v. Raniere,
2019, p. 1508). 29 At age 16, she joined
NXIVM after her parents paid for her to take
courses (they had joined already). By age 18,
Raniere expected her to perform fellatio on
him daily—sometimes more frequently
(2019, p. 2392). Daniela’s experiences
illustrate well the influence of the
mythologizing around the unique honor that
sex with Raniere conferred upon women and,
relationships with both her sisters, Marianna and Camila. Camila
was just fifteen years old when Raniere first established a sexual
relationship with her (United States of America v. Raniere, 2019, p.
3312).
29 Raniere banished Daniela to a single room as punishment for her
relationship with Ben—a member of NXIVM. Daniela provided
extensive court testimony on the events leading up to her isolation
and her harrowing experience of it (United States of America v.
Raniere, 2019).
Lalich, 1997, p. 10).26 He even indicated that
abortions presented opportunities for weight
loss (United States of America v. Raniere,
2019, p. 2636). Raniere’s long-time business
associate and sexual partner, Pam Carfritz,
organized the terminations—as documented
at the clinic that performed them (United
States of America v. Raniere, 2019, pp.
3307–3308).
The aforementioned examples represent just
a sample of Raniere’s rules regarding sex. He
legitimated these and others with ideological
justifications and, at times, with humiliating
bullying. Throughout, he rationalized his
regulatory practices as being essential to the
women’s achieving personal growth (see
Lalich, 1997, pp. 10–11), whilst in reality
they served to bolster Raniere’s power over
them (see Sinnamon, 2017, p. 465).
B. Sex With Raniere As Special
The belief that sexual experiences with the
group’s leader is an honor, or “a special gift,
a way of achieving further growth,” is
indicative of the institution of female
submission (Lalich, 1997, p. 11). Raniere
alleged that, when he was “working with
someone” (a euphemism for having sex with
a woman), he contributed to her personal
growth and could resolve her disintegrations
(United States of America v. Raniere, 2019,
p. 2395–2396). 27 Oxenberg recalls one of
Raniere’s followers telling her that “‘the only
way to true enlightenment is by having sex
with Keith’” (Oxenberg &Stoynoff, 2019,
26 Raniere did, however, have two sons: one each with inner circle
members, Kristen Keeffe and Marianna.
27 According to Raniere, ‘disintegrations’ are a person’s faulty
perceptions of the world due to the failure of adults to evolve beyond
their childhood comprehension of reality. He claimed that
NXIVM’s ‘Rational Inquiry’ method offered the first scientific
means of resolving this problem (Martin, 2003).
28 Daniela’s is a complex story, and I am unable to include her or
other members’ full narratives here. Their histories and experiences
emerged during the trial and the media reported many, but certainly
not all, of the details. In Daniela’s case, Raniere had sexual
p. 96 see also Edmondson, &Gasbarre,
2019, p. 185). Raniere claimed that his semen
had “mystical” properties that caused women
to see a “blue light” after he ejaculated
(United States of America v. Raniere, 2019,
p. 2395). Purportedly, sex with Raniere could
even help women recover from the trauma of
sexual abuse (Oxenberg &Stoynoff, 2019, p.
165). These and other so-called teachings
permeated NXIVM culture, contributing to
Raniere’s ability to groom women into
believing that sex with him was both special
and transformative. Moreover, in terms of a
member’s status, sexual relationships with
Raniere brought women into his elite inner
circle (United States of America v. Raniere,
2019, p. 2400).
Former member Daniela28 explained in her
court testimony that she went from being a
dedicated high-school student in Mexico—
with acceptance into a prestigious university
in Switzerland—to becoming a member of
NXIVM who, at Raniere’s behest, would
eventually be isolated in a bedroom for 2
years (United States of America v. Raniere,
2019, p. 1508). 29 At age 16, she joined
NXIVM after her parents paid for her to take
courses (they had joined already). By age 18,
Raniere expected her to perform fellatio on
him daily—sometimes more frequently
(2019, p. 2392). Daniela’s experiences
illustrate well the influence of the
mythologizing around the unique honor that
sex with Raniere conferred upon women and,
relationships with both her sisters, Marianna and Camila. Camila
was just fifteen years old when Raniere first established a sexual
relationship with her (United States of America v. Raniere, 2019, p.
3312).
29 Raniere banished Daniela to a single room as punishment for her
relationship with Ben—a member of NXIVM. Daniela provided
extensive court testimony on the events leading up to her isolation
and her harrowing experience of it (United States of America v.
Raniere, 2019).
