The Invisible Women

This article shocked me in more ways that I can imagine. Maybe it's because I live abroad, or that I have lived a sheltered life. You could say that it's because I'm spoilt, but I never thought that being divorced, widowed, raped, etc. could condemn a woman to live the life that these "invisible women" live.
How is it that in a country where we all say that we are modern and forward thinking that someone who has been raped can't live a normal life and has to be shunned from society and looked down upon. Why is it that a woman who stood up for herself while living in an abusive relationship now has to live in a dingy room. 
These women did not choose their future and they are trying to move forward which itself is hard from the circumstances that they have been in and yet we as a society decide that we will not allow them to.
It's sad to think that mothers are abandoned, that wives are left and that victims are looked down upon. 
It's not difficult to wonder why these things happened in the first place instead of thinking that these women have committed a mistake. How hard is it to lend a helping hand? To help look after a single mother's child while she has to work? To offer up a room so that your mother can stay? To take in your sister or daughter so that she won't have to suffer in an abusive relationship.
After all, when we look after people, isn't that when society moves forward and becomes better?
No one should have to be invisible.
Everyone should be seen.

Be Strong

The other day, I heard a story about someone close to my heart. Let's call her R.

R married her husband S quite a few years ago, when I was a small child. She lived a life, that wasn't ideal but it wasn't bad either. Soon she had a baby girl and they lived well for a bit. During these years, S abused her verbally. Calling her names, saying she was worthless, etc. She left him and went to stay with her family but always went back to him. She had another baby girl and she may have thought that things would change now that they have two kids to take care of. But no. Things didn't change. Instead they got worse. A couple of days ago, he hit her, and threatened to throw acid on her face.

I think she finally had enough. She packed her things and left to go home. I don't know if she'll go back or she's call the cops, but I hope it's the latter.

My mum asked me this the other day after telling me this story. She asked, "I don't know if it's women who are less impatient, but she packed her things and left."

My reply to that was "It's not that women are less impatient ma, it's that in our generation, there is no stigma anymore if a couple is divorced. She doesn't have to worry about what people think, she has children to worry about and that's her first priority. Her husband is stupid to think that he can behave that way with her. She's less afraid, because people will always find out the truth."

Its so sad to hear that some people think that their loved ones are their property rather than anything else.

There's nothing that I can say to help her, except support her in what she does. I hope the number of people who behave like S decrease, and I hope people realise that you are strong enough to walk away. Don't worry about what people say. You are your first priority. If you are safe, then your family will be too.

There are always organisations that you can call for help in your country. Find out their numbers.

Be safe.

S