This is a subject that has been weighing on my mind for some time now and even more since I have to do several lectures on the topic of Women and Domestic Violence for the month of March which is Women History month.  (Mike here it goes, another I hate to write blogs).  First I want to publicly state that I am a survivor of spousal abuse and domestic violence.  I am blessed for there are many who presently have not escaped such torture and many who have lost their lives because of it.  As far as I'm concerned domestic violence should be considered as a crime against humanity period.   Also let me say that there are some men who also are subjected to domestic violence, but this blog is centered around the women who has and who are still experiencing this type of torture and inhumane treatment.

I ask that you all bare with me, for it's not an easy thing to write about, nor is it easy for me to talk about it, yet I do for each time I do I participate in my healing which I believe will be ongoing for the rest of my life.  

My dear friend Pastor Tim has written a blog titled, "Are Feminists Against Motherhood?"    In his blog he quotes Linda Hirshman as saying,  "The tasks of housekeeping and child rearing [are] not worthy of the full time and talents of intelligent and educated human beings. They do not require a great intellect, they are not honored and they do not involve risks and the rewards that risk brings."

You have to wonder why a woman say such a thing, after all everyone with good sense knows that it's the woman, the mother who is the first teacher of the child.  It's the mother who good or bad lays the tracks that will impact that child for the rest of his life.  That's how important and powerful the role of the mother is.  

Pastor Tim closes his blog with this statement: 

'I am constantly amazed at the hostility the word feminism seems to unleash in so many people, since I've always associated it with the belief that women should be given equal opportunity, fair pay, redress for sexual harassment etc. which seems fairly non-controversial. Unfortunately, too many of the voices for feminism seem disconnected form the reality that most women inhabit. They are focused on "problems" that hardly exist - like women wishing they were working more - while spending precious little energy on issues that indisputably have a negative impact on women: pornography, sex trafficking, or lack of adequate child care for the vast majority of mothers who are working because they have no choice. If they spent a fraction of the time on these issues that they spend trying to get women to get their men to vacuum the living room, the world would be a better place."

Although I admit that I too don't know what the term feminism really means, but the above mentioned "hostility" I believe comes from a far deeper place than many will admit. I believe that the unsaid hatred for women who choose to stay at home to raise their children and take care of their family stems from what I term as the "conspiracy of silence." Although there are agencies and advocates around the country and the world who do address it, the issue of domestic violence,  it's still not enough.   I also want to address the ones who suffer in silence, the women of the Church.   What I want to do is discuss some issues that aren't discussed, unveil the hidden beast, reveal the demon for who he really is.  I know this isn't a pretty, cutie blog and I make no apologies for it.  It's time to lift our voices collectively, it's time to open our eyes to the truth.  I'm ready.  What say you?

Pastor Aminata