It hurts to hear, it hurts to know
Women and children all over the world,
Having their lives cut short, don’t you know?
Murdered, abused, their voices silenced each day
A pain that echoes, in every way

Girls, each day, lost to violence and pain
Their futures stolen, their dreams in vain
It hurts, it aches, it cuts deep inside
To hear of sisters, lost, and futures denied

But still we rise, we stand, we speak
For justice, for rights, for a life to seek
So let’s stand together, united as one
On November 21st, let our voices be heard

Every girl, every woman,
every life matters, let’s make it clear
No more violence, no more fear, we stand for change, we stand for peace, we stand for justice,
and we stand for life, equality, and humanity.

Your voice matters, and together we can make a difference.

By: Grace Banda

The post Your Voice Matters~ Grace Banda appeared first on Sheevolves.world.

Maid is a powerful and emotional drama series on Netflix that tells the story of a young mother named Alex (played by Margaret Qualley) who leaves an abusive relationship and struggles to provide for herself and her daughter. The show focuses on the challenges and hardships that women face when trying to escape abusive situations and rebuild their lives.

One of the most striking aspects of Maid is its realistic portrayal of domestic violence. The show doesn’t shy away from the physical and emotional abuse that Alex endures at the hands of her ex-boyfriend. Instead, it shows the devastating impact that domestic violence has on survivors and their families. The scenes of violence are difficult to watch, but they are an important reminder of the pervasive nature of domestic violence in our society.

Maid also sheds light on the complex social welfare system and how it often fails to support women in need. The show highlights the challenges that Alex faces when trying to navigate the system and how she is often met with bureaucratic obstacles and judgmental attitudes from social workers. This portrayal is a stark reminder of the inequalities and injustices that women face when trying to access resources and support.

Despite these challenges, Maid is ultimately a story of hope and resilience. It shows how Alex is able to overcome the obstacles in her path and find a way to provide for herself and her daughter. Throughout the show, Alex demonstrates incredible strength and determination, refusing to give up even in the face of adversity. Her journey is a powerful reminder of the resilience and strength of women.

The performances in Maid are outstanding. Margaret Qualley is a standout, giving a raw and emotionally charged performance as Alex. She captures the complexities and nuances of her character with authenticity and depth. The supporting cast, including Nick Robinson as Alex’s ex-boyfriend, Anika Noni Rose as Alex’s social worker, and Andie MacDowell as Alex’s mother, are all excellent and add depth and complexity to the story.

The production design and cinematography of Maid are also worth noting. The show captures the stark realities of poverty and homelessness with gritty realism. The camera work and lighting help to create a bleak and oppressive atmosphere that reflects the challenges that Alex faces. The attention to detail in the costumes and makeup also adds to the realism of the show.

Maid is an intense and emotionally charged show that shines a light on the challenges and struggles that women face when trying to escape abusive situations and rebuild their lives. It is a story of hope and resilience, showing how women can overcome even the most difficult of circumstances. With its outstanding performances, writing, and production, Maid is a must-watch show that will leave a lasting impact.

Sources:

https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/maid-netflix-tv-review-2021

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/maid-netflix-review-1235023356/

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/01/arts/television/review-maid-netflix.html

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Domestic violence is a serious issue that affects millions of people around the world. It is a pattern of behaviour used by one person to gain control over another person in an intimate relationship. Domestic violence can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse, and it can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, or socioeconomic status. Speaking out about domestic violence can be extremely difficult, but it is important to do so for several reasons.

Speaking out about domestic violence can help to break the cycle of abuse. Many people who experience domestic violence feel isolated and alone, and they may believe that the abuse is their fault. By speaking out, they can realise that they are not alone and that the abuse is not their fault. This can give them the courage and strength to leave the abusive relationship and seek help.

Speaking out about domestic violence can help to hold abusers accountable for their actions. Domestic violence is a crime, and abusers should be held responsible for their behaviour. By speaking out, survivors of domestic violence can help to ensure that their abusers are held accountable and that they are not able to harm others in the future.

Speaking out about domestic violence can help to raise awareness about the issue. Domestic violence is often hidden behind closed doors, and many people are unaware of the prevalence and severity of the problem. By speaking out, survivors of domestic violence can help to educate others about the issue and raise awareness about the signs of abuse. Speaking out about domestic violence can help survivors to heal and move on from the trauma of the abuse.

Domestic violence can have long-lasting effects on a person’s mental health and well-being, and it can take time to heal from the trauma. By speaking out, survivors can take control of their lives and begin the healing process.

Speaking out about domestic violence is an important step for survivors of abuse. It can help to break the cycle of abuse, hold abusers accountable, raise awareness about the issue, and promote healing and recovery. While it may be difficult to speak out, it is important to remember that help and support are available, and that speaking out can be a powerful tool in the fight against domestic violence.

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I am Biankie. I’m a young black African woman. In my community, women have no say, women are not given the opportunity to be leaders, and a community where domestic violence is the norm.

This is my story.

Biankie, The Black African Woman Against Domestic Violence

I was born into a family of five. Three brothers, a sister, and myself. A family where physical, mental, verbal and domestic violence is the norm because of the community I come from. I grew up seeing women in my community suffering.

Many women lost their lives because of the countless beatings and insults from the men they married. Yet nothing is being done about these men. My mom was part of those women. As young as I was, there was no time I had peace in the place I called home. Knives, cooking utensils, and irons were fighting tools in my house. This continued until I turned twenty, and two of my brothers married. My big brother Kofi got married to a lovely young lady. As did my second brother Atinbila.Their marriages were full of joy, and I admired their marriages.

I graduated from law school. I, Biankie, wanted to make a difference. I wanted to be the first female president in my country. I wanted to be that black African woman who would give voiceless women a voice. As the years passed, I won many cases as a lawyer. I also set up many organizations to help women mentally and physically damaged by domestic violence.

When I was twenty-five, I decided to visit my brothers as it had been a long time since I’d seen them and their new family, so I went to Kofi, happy to knock on the door, only for me to see his wife disorganized, a young lady coming out with a broken head, one red eye, and full of tears.

I sat her down and asked why. I asked what had happened. It was her husband. My brother. So, I left her house and told her to meet me in my office the next day. Out of anger, I took my bag and went straight to my second brother’s house. I knocked and noticed no one was coming. I knocked again and met a pregnant woman with marks on her body. I shouted and asked why. She told me it was her husband. My brother.

As a lawyer, people knew me. I mostly had a lot of cases of domestic violence. I was nicknamed BIANKIE, THE BLACK AFRICA WOMAN AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. The question now was, how do I fight? It was my family, and I was the voice of women. My country was looking at me. Was I going to represent my brothers? Or stand by their wives? I had family members coming to me saying the family is family.

“I stand as lawyer to defend these two women, my lord.”

Justice was served.

An African woman is like a lion, ready to protect.

Ready to die.

Ready to love.

Story by Asem Martina Biankie

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Whilst the end may be near for COVID, its impact on the world, and especially women is far from it. As a woman myself, I can speak first hand to the personal impact I have experienced due to COVID. And others that my female friends have had to endure. And while this article is not about feeling sorry for the female population. It is about highlighting some of the difficulties that women around the world have had to endure due to gender inequalities, pay gaps and overall expectation put on women. Below are just some of the ways women of all ages have been affected by COVID.

1. Burning it from both ends: As i’ve written countless times on here. One of the biggest things to happen to me during COVID was becoming a mother the day the first lockdown started. This unforeseen reality meant that whilst my husband and I had hoped for some help from family and friends. I was left with being a mom, home maker and working all in one day. This usually meant that I slept for a maximum of 4 hours a night. This was usually due to my busy schedule taking care of a newborn, working and trying to put food on the table. And whilst my husband did try to help. The reality of society and work environments meant that it was much harder for him to excuse himself from meetings for family emergencies like when our daughter woke up. Whilst I on the other hand found it much easier to have a baby in my arms during meetings. Or postpone when she was being particularly fussy.
2. Further pay gap: Due to being both mother and employee. Most women had to endure a pay reduction, or stepping back entirely from work due to family obligations. Alternatively, most of my friends spoke about how they couldn’t work more with the hours they had as much as their male counterparts as they had so many other home and family obligations.
3. Physical and emotional abuse: One thing COVID brought to the fore is how much women are in danger. Everywhere I looked there were stories, articles and even campaigns about domestic violence. Being forced to stay home also meant that women couldn’t escape their environments and instead had to endure. This to me was one of the harder and harsh realities of COVID.
4. Stress: I must say that even with all that confinement allowed me and my family it also upped the amount of stress for me. In part because of all the juggling, but also because of the uncertainty of the times.

What are some ways you as a women were affected by COVID?

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