Thoughts on Domestic Violence

...so I saw a movie yesterday evening about a woman who suffered constant physical abuse from her husband. There was virtually no day he didn't beat her to a pulp and there was also no weekend she didn't spend in the hospital. Her situation was very critical and her teenage son being traumatised by the whole situation kept pressurising her to either leave his father or fight back. But she did none of those. The more he beat her, the more she remained loyal, apologising for his wrongs, and making up for all his inadequacies.
   I've heard of real stories like this and it would keep beating everybody's imagination why a woman would choose to remain in such a pathetic situation called MARRIAGE and do nothing to protect herself. Some would regard such women as being foolish to remain in such marriage, while others would choose to believe such women have been cast under a spell. Now, I sit back to ask myself why  a woman in that manner of dire situation would choose weakness over strength, would choose to hold on regardless the abuses she faces, and I just came to realise that the society we live in is to blame for all of this.
    Today's society places emphasis on a woman's marital status and uses her ability to remain in her marriage as a yardstick to judge her level of responsibility. This psyche, for me, is responsible for over 80% of the bizzare stories we hear and see as a result of physical / domestic abuse. The point is that woman just can't leave. She's been made to understand that her without a man, her without a marriage, and her without a 'Mrs' before her name makes her a total failure. For her, divorce isn't an option and going back into the society to start life afresh is worse than leaving her beast of a husband. A society that would tag her 'irresponsible', a society that would forever place her in that victim position, a society that would continually sneer at her, a society that wouldn't hesitate to remind her of her divorcee status which makes it impossible for her to be accorded certain rights and respects.
   I'm not trying to say perseverance, endurance, are ill traits a woman should possess neither am I saying divorce is the best and only option out, but as human beings there's always that point we get to and we feel we've reached out elastic limit. That's what I mean. When your emotions, your feelings, and everything that makes you you, has hit rock bottom, all you have to do is let go. If society chooses to call it divorce, then in that situation, so be it because if care isn't taken, you just might be telling the story from the world beyond....

P.S: I admire the strength and courage of women who choose to hold on, who choose to believe that it would all change for the better, and those who keep making excuses to cover up the wrongdoings of their spouses. Contrary to what most of us think, these women aren't foolish, neither have they been put under any spell, they only believe in the sanctity of that institution called marriage and for that I doff my hat. Their strength and perseverance in spite of how detrimental it is to their well being should be lauded.
#AfricanWomenAreTheStrongestWomen