Many women choose to stay in an abusive marriage and suffer in silence. All because our society teaches women to suffer in silence rather than move out of a marriage.
Hence it is not surprising at all that our country has such a massive problem of domestic violence.
Every third woman, since the age of 15, has faced domestic violence of various forms in our country, reported the National Family Health Survey. But what is even more heartbreaking is the fact that – after suffering eye injuries, burns, deep wounds, broken bones, and broken teeth, only a very small segment of heroic women raise their voice against domestic violence.
One such woman is this brave mother who raised her voice against domestic violence so that her daughter doesn’t become the victim of her husband’s abuse.
While sharing her story with HoB, she mentioned:
“My husband never let me work — he used to say that a woman belongs at home to serve her man. I was very young when I got married and didn’t know better so I stayed at home and took care of the house.
He would come home late at night, mostly drunk and get violent toward me — again I didn’t no better and thought that this would go away but once my daughter was born, it became worse.
He would constantly be screaming about expenses and how difficult it is…he would throw things and hit me and I took it all until one night in his anger he picked up my daughter in her sleep and threatened to injure her.
I begged him not to do anything to her… and by God’s grace, he put her down, collapsed to the floor and fell asleep.
The next day as soon as he left for work, I took my daughter, a few of our things and left to live with my sister. For the first few days, I was terrified he would find me…but how long could I sit in fear?
I had no money and a daughter to raise — I got out and started looking for work desperately. I started my working at one home as domestic help and then another and another until I was sweeping or cooking or washing vessels at 6 houses in 1 day.
After a few years I was even able to get a small space for my daughter… she was so brave. She never complained about me not being at home — she would come back from school by herself, eat something at home by herself and study hard everyday. Today, when I see her working and taking care of both of us…I feel so proud to be her mother.”
At IFORHER, we are proud of this brave woman who refuses to accept domestic abuse as her destiny. Her story is an inspiration to many as she rebuilt her life without any family support or education. She left her abusive husband to give a bright future to her daughter.
It is saddening to see how even educated and independent women accept to struggle in silence in an abusive marriage because of fear of ‘log kya kahengey’ or sometimes for the sake of their kids. We hope this story will give them the courage to overcome fear and move away from abuse.
