Tough. Aggressive. Manly. Relentless. Physical. All words that I have heard defining what a man should be. If I ever lapsed in any of these areas, I saw myself as weak. Undeserving. Childish. Emotional. Broken. Unique. Out of place.
It was clear to me that these men – men I know to be “good guys” – had never considered the lengths to which women have to go to feel safe.
This month, we’re sharing perspective from Kendall – one of our interns who spends time weekly in our Greenville shelter and is committed to influencing a culture where all people feel safe and valued in their relationships.
Ending domestic violence requires the collective voice and power of individuals, families, institutions and systems – each who add value to transforming our community and world for the better.
I have seen that victims of domestic violence can come from all socio-economic strata and have met many who have shared their struggles, their bravery, and recovery.
Re-establishing trust and the bond between a parent and child can be done by utilizing social/emotional developmental milestones as a guideline.
“I didn’t know that I was being abused because my definition of abuse looked different. My husband pushed me, but most of my suffering was verbal and psychological. I left my husband to protect our young daughter. Almost immediately I felt the weight of his oppression begin to lift. I could see a difference in my daughter as well. Then he broke into my home and assaulted me in-front of her.
I sought help and was led to Safe Harbor. My daughter and I are in counseling now. I am sorting out the mess that abuse has caused. I am finding my voice and seeking opportunities to grow and better my life as well as my daughter's. She will gauge her self- worth from my own self- worth. I must show her that she deserves the best, by expecting the best for myself. Many years I suffered in silence. By telling my story and being honest with friends and family I’m taking control of my life again.”
MAKE A GIFTWhen you give to Safe Harbor, 84 cents of every dollar goes directly to our intervention services and prevention initiatives to break the cycle of domestic violence in the Upstate of South Carolina. |
BOOK A SPEAKERWe are available to provide domestic violence education and information about Safe Harbor’s services through speaking engagements, trainings, workshops and awareness campaigns. |
429 N. Main St., Suite 1
Greenville, SC 29601
PO Box 174
Greenville, SC 29602
© 2020 Safe Harbor. All Rights Reserved|
Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy |
Site by ALINE, A Marketing Company
