“I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but
over themselves.”
Mary Wollstonecraft
I started volunteering at BARN with the preconception
that the women I am working with are survivors. I believed that they were victims of an abusive relationship. The men that promised to love them and hold
them dear as long as they shall live became their abusers. Whether emotionally, physically, or
financially, the one that these women had trusted the most and depended on hurt
them the most. For many women living at the
BARN, my beliefs hold true.
In our society, in many cultures, women have been made
invisible. We are treated as the
“other”. We have been thought of as the
one who is intellectually inferior and overly emotional. In many situations, we have been objectified. We are often treated as ornaments and a means
to an end; someone who needs to be cherished when she is needed but is also
disposable when she is no longer fit for her purpose. Our role have been limited to that of a
“trophy wife”, a mother, yet not capable of having a voice in the upbringing of
her child or the needs of the household … .
In the short time that I have been working at BARN I have encountered
all those above observations.
But I would not be honest to say that I have not been
surprised. I think that part of growing
and learning is to become humble enough to recognize when we are wrong. BARN, a transitional home for women and
children, wants to support families that are homeless by providing services to
“promote healing, growth, and self-sufficiency.” While most women at BARN take full advantage
of the program, I was quite taken aback by the few who are resistant to
learning. For instance, the one who
remains dependent on the caseworker, refuse to move forward, and remain an
obstacle to the progress of her children.
Or, the one who would rather put herself in harm’s way through her
relationships with multiple partners instead of keeping a job and caring for
her child … . But through those few, I
learn that as women, we are called to support each other. Although for me, I naturally think of support
as being compassionate, caring, and understanding, I am learning that being
supportive can also mean be assertive, tough, and yet merciful.
Barbara Starrett writes, “Every women’s efforts are
valuable and limited only by her own vision and the intensity of her belief in
that vision.” My hope for the women I
meet at BARN is that they dream big. I
want them to take full advantage of what the program offers. I am hoping that they overcome their past and
know that they are capable of breaking the cycle of abuse in their family. I want each of them to obtain the means to be
self-sufficient and find the support that they need to raise their children in
a peaceful environment. I am hoping to
continue to help them in anyway that I would be the most useful: whether
through tutoring, babysitting, providing life skills lesson or a listening
hear … . I am ready for the challenge, I
think.
With love,
Christina
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