Without belittling the violence suffered by women at the hands of men,
women can be abusers too
so there are men out there abused by women.
The set-up is similar, although women mostly seem to use manipulation, verbal and emotional abuse.
At least that’s what I’ve spotted so far.
In addition, I think a man is much less likely to open up to anyone and ask for help.
And let’s not forget that believing that a woman/mother can be abusive is much harder. Perhaps because subconsciously she is assigned the role of the “primary protector“?
Whatever the set-up is, we can help an abused person by simply
listening to them without doubt or judgement.
Because only they can decide what their next step will be.
Abuse can be verbal and emotional, not just physical.
And while a slap hurts physically, I’d liken
emotional abuse to poison slowly dripping over a long time.
It takes a lot of time to notice it, but also to acknowledge it afterwards. Although there is no physical trace or contact, it is still just as destructive.
It’s invisible, destroying the other person from within.
What if we are less likely to see a woman as an abuser because she is the “weaker sex”. Is that perhaps why we often turn a blind eye?
And it is not only men who suffer from such a woman, but also her children.
It can take a lifetime to heal from the devastation caused by such a mother if you even dare to face the reality of your childhood.
I salute all who stepped up to break the family pattern.
Here is my hand.