Victors not victims

Victors not victims

I was wearing a skirt that day and was on my way home. Sitting on the rear side of a public utility vehicle I placed my jacket on my lap and was quietly enjoying the ride when suddenly, I felt a hand on my thigh. I tried to push that hand away but a middle-aged man looked at me with a threatening stare as if telling me to keep quiet. There were only two of us on that side of the vehicle. I didn’t know what to do. After few minutes, I found the courage to jump out even while the vehicle was moving. I was mad at myself for allowing myself to be a victim. Why didn't I fight?

It was my first job and I was excited but it turned to be an unpleasant experience. My boss asked me to clean a high shelf so I had to climb a high chair to do it. When I looked down he was there watching me and whatever flesh he could see. I wanted to shrink in shame. What do you do with a superior who asks you to go out with him or sleep with him? After I got my first paycheck I quit the job, giving up a career I wanted and everything that should have gone with it. Why couldn't I fight?

Why are women treated like commodities and objects and not as people with dignity? This question bothers me until this day. All over the news there are stories of women who have gone through traumatic experiences, they have been raped, molested, and have been victims of domestic violence and sexual harassment, and all other kinds of abuses. Most of these women don’t know how to defend themselves and how to fight for their rights … they are left with two choices, to give in or run away helplessly. In both ways, women end up feeling bad about themselves. They blame themselves and feel bad all the more.

This is the change I want for my community. I want a society where women can have their place as a dignified human being ...where their rights are not trodden upon and where they learn to fight their battles bravely. I believe it is time for women to rise above this stigma and be something they have never been before. And in this, I truly want to make a difference.

I have started in my own little way. Whenever I can, I publish reports about women concerns, laws and measures of the government to protect women against all forms of abuses. I try to reach out to those I can reach but in my heart I know this is not enough. There is so much to learn and do. This is my challenge. How can I help them more?

Through World Pulse and other online communities, I will be able to get in touch with women from all over the world, to hear their battles and victories, to learn from them and to be part of a bigger crusade for the empowerment and protection of women.

My passion has been ignited. Thank you women of World Pulse.