Last week, I shared with you the Brave Woman Pledge. I encouraged you all to take a quick moment to consider what it means to be a Brave Woman and asked you to take the pledge yourself. Here is the pledge to refresh your memory.
I pledge to honor and respect brave women and children who tackle the difficult journey of change from domestic violence to a new life. I acknowledge my own moment-by-moment bravery, will remain aware of what is happening to others around me, and speak up against violence in any form. I will stand up for human dignity and safety for women and children.
Have you taken the time to do that yet? I would like to ask you again to stand up for women and children who are dealing with domestic violence in their lives. It takes minutes to take the pledge and there are so many ways you can help in your daily life. Please visit Brave Woman or find them on Facebook or Twitter for more information.
I also shared with you last week that domestic violence can be more than just body part to body part. There is a side of domestic violence that is often forgotten, the verbal abuse that many women and children deal with. I told you that I believe the verbal abuse is more damaging than physical abuse because wounds heal but words are with you forever. Well, today I want to give you a better idea of what I mean by verbal abuse because this is something I know.
Here are some examples of how a person with verbal abuse may live their life:
- Feeling as though they are walking on eggshells around their partner.
- Being fearful of speaking the truth when their partner may not agree.
- Being fearful of speaking at all.
- Being told when it is an appropriate time to talk to their partner.
- Feeling as though parts (or all) of their life is controlled by their partner.
- Being told when to wake, go to bed, cook dinner, or any other random tasks.
- Being called names.
- Being told they are not a good wife, mother, woman.
- Being blamed for things that they may or may not have control over. Everything may be their fault.
- Feeling as though they are going to “get in trouble” for things because of the reaction they will get from their partner.
- They may not get love and support when upset because the person upsetting them is supposed to be the one helping them but is not.
- Feeling alone.
- Feeling hopeless.
- They may wonder what they can do… or what they did to deserve this.
- They may feel trapped. They have been made to feel worthless so why would anyone love, help, or care for them?
- They may keep all this hidden away to be dealt with alone.
Verbal abuse can take many forms. It doesn’t have to be name calling and cussing. It may be manipulation. It may be constant bombarding with words. It may be threats. Please know that verbal abuse and physical abuse are both forms of domestic violence.
I vow this year to help women, to give them a voice, and to make changes in my own life to combat domestic violence. What can you do? Please ask yourself this today.
Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for CollectiveBias. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rosey says
Just a note, you can volunteer too. Though the domestic violence shelter where I live requires training to work with the actual residents, there are still volunteer opportunities aplenty…I do office work for ours, but you could do any number of things, or even remember the residents by picking up diapers, winter coats, etc., while you’re out and about and dropping them off. Kudos to those who help, to those who have lived it and gotten out, and hugs to those who may be at this very moment, struggling.
Stefany says
You are right Rosey… there are so many ways to make a difference.
Amy says
I took the pledge. This is so important!
Stefany says
Thanks Amy!