Let's Talk: Women’s Month & The Golden Rule

Good morning/afternoon/ evening, you beautiful people! 

August has been a busy month but it is also women's month in South Africa🇿🇦. In light of this I want to stress the importance of not looking the other way when you witness violence or mistreatment. It has been so imbedded in our culture to not care if someone else gets hurt.

 It has also been so disturbing and disappointing to watch the "It Ends With Us", promotion. What could have been such an amazing opportunity to open up the discussion around abuse and getting help was treated like the premiere of Barbie! Even Barbie's promotion had more depth! It was nauseating to watch such a delicate and broad issue being treated so carelessly. 

My point here, is that it's important to care. I am glad to see that people are saying something and not allowing the promotion to be about flowers! The more that we can openly talk about abuse and destigmatize it, the better. When you see something, say something! 

There are countless women who have been murdered yet someone noticed something off and chose to say nothing. This is also a problem that goes two ways because the authorities take ages to respond. They also tend to treat abuse like it is a domestic issue and not a legal issue. 

What I hope for is a shift in our cultural norms, as a global community. I know that looking the other way is easier but what if that was your daughter, your sister or your mother? Would it easy to look away then? Would you want someone to call the police, get them to a safe place or simply not allow them to be dragged in the street like a rag doll? Let that person be you! 

The more indifferent we become, the more tolerant we become towards abuse. We can't afford to sit on the fence about this because we are losing too many women at the hands of a "domestic, family", situation. 

In communities we live among each other, let community actually mean something. 

I hope that moving forward, we treat this topic with the delicacy and sensitivity that deserves. I also hope that we begin to apply the golden rule, as no one gets into an abusive relationship with their eyes open.

Abuse and assault can happen to anyone. As women's month is coming to an end, let's move forward with empathy. 

Next month is National Suicide Prevention Month as well as Heart Awareness Month in South Africa.

 Did you know that women who have endured domestic violence are three times more likely to commit suicide than their peers? Abuse and trauma can lead to greater risk of cardiovascular diseases. Some of ailments that we have in society are so much more than dietary and lifestyle choices. 

We have to choose to support one another because the results are staggering.

 "Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away". Proverbs 27: 10-11

All my love♥️

Ruthy