I have never been in an abusive relationship. I was never bullied or picked on, never got into a fight that I lost. I don’t know what it feels like to be a victim.
Sadly, not everyone can make that statement truthfully. Every day, countless women and children are abused by their husbands, boyfriends, and fathers. Every day, somewhere in the world, a man comes home and beats his wife because he had a bad day. Every day, somewhere in the world, a child is being beaten by their parent because life just wasn’t what they thought it would be. Abusers can come up with an endless list of excuses for why they are beating on their chosen victims.
Not all abuse is so easily visible as a physical beating. Other forms of abuse - emotional, psychological, financial, sexual, and verbal abuse - happen every day. There is no one form of abuse that is worse than the other; they are all equally terrifying and unforgettable.
Too many women and children’s lives are ended due to domestic violence.
But, would it surprise you to know that women and children are not the only victims of domestic abuse? Would it shock you to know that there is only one men’s shelter in Alberta? It shocks me - not because it surprises me that men are abused, but because 1 shelter is not nearly enough for one province. Men are just as susceptible to domestic violence, but for whatever reasons - pride, embarrassment, fear - more men fail to report domestic violence and abuse than women do.
Will this blog make a difference in those statistics? No. Will this blog stop domestic violence? No. But the more people speak up about it, the more people will know about it. The more people who know about it, the more people will see that it needs to stop.
If you know someone who is in an abusive relationship, offer them a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. Give them hope and sanctuary, if they so desire it. If you know a child who is suffering abuse, it is your DUTY to report it. It will never benefit a child to remain silent because you don’t want to stick your nose in, or risk losing a friend if you report them.
Domestic Violence ruins lives. Don’t let your silence support that atrocity.
