Read on Twitter
A small thread from a woman sick to death of men abusing women and all other men being complicit by not calling out abusers on their behaviour. TW. #Octavian & domestic abuse.
There are a terrifying amount of responses from men backing Octavian, or calling his ex-girlfriend attention seeking for speaking out.
Women feeling strong and able enough to talk about their abusers and their experiences of abuse is NOT attention seeking, or wanting fame. It is resistance, it is deeply political, it is remarkable.
Abuse means trauma. Trauma means removal of self-worth, confidence, and self esteem. It is feeling ashamed to be in your body. It is dissociation. It is not wanting to be seen. It is losing your identity. It is NOT asserting yourself, it is not centring yourself.
If a woman is able to speak out about abuse whilst feeling all of the above then we should be proud of her. We believe her. We collectively hold her. We validate her. You do not disbelieve her, you do not deny his abuse. You do not tell her sheâs attention seeking.
The patriarchy has taught you women talking about their abuse is for attention. It has taught you to brush off âover sharingâ. It has taught you to find women talking about abuse awkward. It has taught you to shut down conversations about abuse b/c itâs a conversation killer.
Keeping women silent re. abuse is just another way the patriarchy self sustains. It maintains itself, & so, the abuse, oppression and exploitation continues. And all men staying silent not condemning abusive behaviour are are complicit. All males benefit from female silence.
