October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
And we need to talk about what too many women are taught to normalize.
Abuse is not love.
Control is not protection.
Jealousy is not passion.
Isolation is not commitment.
Fear is not respect.
Domestic violence can be physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, or coercive. It can happen behind closed doors while everything looks perfect from the outside.
And no woman should have to become “strong enough” to survive abuse.
We should be teaching women that they deserve safety before they have to fight for it.
Believe women.
Listen without judgment.
Know the signs.
Support survivors.
Hold abusers accountable.
Because a woman should never have to shrink, submit, or suffer to keep a relationship.
Love should never cost you your safety.
Signed, a Domestic Violence Survivor 💜
