Power and control

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Mona didn't show up this week-at the battered women's meeting. I was worried. The social worker said-"no news is good news." I sure hope so. Last week I watched Oprah interview a woman burned alive by her estranged husband. He came to her job--poured gasoline over her and lit a match-turning her into a blazing human inferno.
If that's not shocking enough-she said a judge-a man-had just recently removed the restraining order against her husband-the legal piece of paper that was supposed to protect her...to keep her abuser from going near her. We all know a piece of paper can't stop a killer...but at the very least it is a red flag that something is wrong and that someone in the legal system believes the victim.
If you're worried someone you know is being abused...here are some other red flags. First, it's all about power and control... The batterer in a relationship tries to dominate and control the other person through the use of physical, verbal and/or emotional abuse. They will humiliate the person, isolate them from friends or family, use threats and intimidation to scare them and then deny they've been abusive-blaming their temper on a bad day, a bad childhood and most of the time on the victim! Lots of victims are afraid to leave-but if they stay, they could very well be killed-or end up killing themselves.

REMEMBER HELP IS A PHONE CALL AWAY...CALL 911 or THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE 1800 799 SAFE...
Take back your power and control-you are worth it!

Comments

Anonymous said…
thank you for posting the wheel. It helped open my eyes to what is going on in my family
July 20, 2008
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